Geely Monjaro

When entering the cabin of the Monjaro, one gets an instant impression of a high-quality performance in the segment above. The design philosophy emphasizes visual purity with built-in AC vents hidden in the dashboard design- a feature that brings the presentation of the interiors to the next level, as compared to other competitors that provide traditional vent design. The general design adheres to a harmonious technological progress, practicality, and does not overload the occupants with a multiplicity of buttons or a complicated interface design.

The most notable interior feature includes the high-end triple-screen layout: a large 14.1-inch touchscreen, a co-pilot display (unusual in the segment), and a fully digital instrument cluster. This all-inclusive digital architecture enables a user-friendly control of vehicle functions and offers rich information presentation without requiring the attention of the occupants. The 14.1-inch main screen is quite responsive and has sharp, readable images even in the scorching UAE sun. Touch sensitivity is also suitably calibrated, and it reacts immediately without the need to press hard or with frustrating delays.

Night driving experience is enhanced by an interior ambient lighting system, which can be customized to provide accent lighting that can transform the cabin ambiance to a truly luxurious one, as opposed to just being a functional one. The system works on advanced levels without gimmickry, lighting improves visibility and brings a nice atmosphere instead of disturbing the occupants. Its large panoramic sunroof drenches the interior with natural light in daytime, which increases the feeling of spaciousness to a considerable degree and leads to a high-quality ownership experience.

Driving Position and Ergonomics

The driver's seat has an electronically controlled positioning that can be easily customised to individual preferences with easy-to-use controls. Seat design is supportive without excessive cushioning, covering key differences between seating, which is inert space-wise, but seating is proactive in terms of occupant comfort during protracted driving periods. The quilted pattern that is used to cover seating surfaces indicates that it is durable, and it is also visually sophisticated.

The ventilated seat feature is especially useful in the hot climate of the UAE, where it is actively used to extract moisture and heat out of the bodies of occupants using perforated leather and built-in fans. This aspect goes beyond the luxury category as it offers the true comfort benefits in traffic driving in the city when the traditional seat becomes more uncomfortable with the rise in ambient temperatures.

The high sitting posture offers high traffic visibility, instilling confidence in driving within the city and minimizing fatigue of the driver that comes with continually changing the position relative to taller vehicles. The steering wheel is electronically adjusted in several axes to suit a wide range of driver anthropometry, and still has the ability to reach the controls intuitively. Audio, telephone, and cruise functionality are provided as steering wheel-mounted controls, which reduce distraction since the most commonly used controls are within the reach of the fingers.

Passenger Accommodations

The back seat is fitted with three average seating passengers, but true long-haul comfort is best with two passengers. Legroom is spacious, and passengers can cross their legs or even place their feet without touching the back seat. There is headroom even with the sloping roofline design, and this is even with the fact that the interior architecture is based on the comfort of the occupants rather than just compromising on pure contemporary style.

Dual-zone climate control is controlled with a high level of sophistication; front and rear temperatures are controlled separately, and it reacts quickly to changes in the ambient conditions. Rear AC vents are provided at a convenient height and provide cooling to the rear occupants instead of using front zone cooling to cool the entire cabin. This distributed design is used in order to make rear passengers feel like they are having real climate control instead of the downstream climate that front systems provide.

There is a rather good noise isolation in the cabin, and very little road and wind noise can penetrate at highway speeds. The glass and select sound-absorptive material allow lamination to create noise-compliant levels to comfortable talking levels- a true luxury on long commutes where acoustic stress adds up and lowers the well-being of occupants. This effect is especially evident when compared to the rivals of the same price, where cabin noise frequently gives unpleasant surprises.

Storage and Practicality

Deep door bins are used to store water bottles and other small objects safely, and the glovebox has a lot of space that can be utilised in keeping vehicle papers and other personal necessities. The main console has functional storage spaces that cater to the normal storage requirements of day-to-day life without the occupants having to use makeshift solutions that would interfere with the organization of the cabin.

The standard boot size of 620 liters can fit all the grocery purchases of the week, airport baggage transportation, or regular vacation packing without having to find innovative solutions to organize the space. The new folding rear seat system increases the capacity to 1,450 liters, changing the car from a daily commuter to a weekend adventure platform. The low loading floor height is comparatively low, which makes loading of the heavier items not so cumbersome physically, which is a realistic feature that is commonly not thought of during the designing of vehicles, but is really valued when it comes to the actual use of the vehicle.

There are smart storage hooks in the boot that do not allow the shopping bags and other smaller objects to slide in the process of acceleration, deceleration, or cornering, which is a simple detail that points to really clever design by a real user experience expert rather than an engineering theory.

The car has six airbags (front, side, and curtain) to offer maximum occupant protection during a collision. The strategic distribution offers coverage to varied impact directions and locations of occupants. The ISOFIX child seat anchors provide a safe attachment of the proper child restraint systems to the growing percentage of families in the UAE who have young children.

Active Safety Technology includes:

• Lane departure warning 
• Forward collision assist 
• Automatic braking intervention
• Rear-end collisions
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control 
• Electronic stability systems
• ABS with EBD
• Hill descent control
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Rear occupant alert 

The Geely Monjaro has an immediate appeal with an aggressive, modern design language that has been carried out with an elegant touch not found in the Chinese competitors in the low-end segment. The front profile is commanding through its large built-in grille with a big Geely logo with heavy chrome embellishment. Complete LED headlights with advanced adaptive technology provide better visibility in the dark and better performance under adverse weather conditions- real safety benefits beyond the aesthetic value.

The Monjaro (around 4,770 mm long) fits well in the urban environment of the compact SUV segment, both in terms of road presence and in terms of practical manoeuvrability necessary in the urban conditions in the UAE. The ground clearance of 180 mm can serve the daily road conditions on the competent ground without hindering highway stability. Design maturity is shown in the side profile with the use of a gently sloping roofline that forms the coupe-like elegance without loss of headroom, unlike the utilitarian competitors.

Alloy wheels with multiple spokes (base: 19 inches, higher trims: 20 inches) are luxurious multi-spoke wheels with a combination of sportiness and high style. Side windows have chrome trim garnishing, which focuses positioning, and side windows have generous glass flooding that gives the impression of spaciousness that is larger than the actual volume.

The back displays the unique single-slat LED taillight design that resonates with the modern philosophy of Porsche, providing a signature appearance. Suggestive performance without being pretentious is implied by the subtle roof spoiler and dual exhaust finishers. Tailgate is equipped with power, which adds real-life convenience.

The Monjaro has five exterior colors, which include White, Green, Black, Silver, and Grey.

The available engine: 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder (238 hp, 350 Nm torque). The Volvo co-development gives assurance of reliability and performance calibration in more than isolated Chinese engineering.

The 1.5T provides sufficient daily commuting and urban performance and is responsive enough with turbocharging to merge in the highway. Competitive with the estimated efficiency of 8-10 km/l in the city and 14-17 km/l on the highway. The 2.0T is significantly quicker to drive with much more power and torque (360 Nm instead of 265 Nm), which provides real highway driveability with acceleration that instills confidence. The eight-speed automatic transmission proves to be smooth, and the gear change is not felt. The transmission behavior, throttle response, and suspension characteristics can be altered in multiple driving modes (Eco, City, Sport). Front-wheel drive maximizes traction throughout acceleration with predictable handling- this is practical in the UAE, where the climate is mostly dry.

Infotainment and Technology Systems

The 14.1-inch main touch display provides a responsiveness and visualization that can be compared to high-end branded devices at considerably higher prices. The interface architecture is designed based on logic, and it reduces the learning curve in order to operate it intuitively. The brightness is sufficient in direct UAE sunlight, which is not a problem since the touchscreen implementations have a reading challenge in this environment at times.

Android Auto is seamlessly integrated so that smartphones can be mirrored to allow navigation with familiar mapping applications, and is safe due to voice-control capability. The integration is effective, and it does not need complex pairing processes or connectivity failures that annoy most users.

The co-passenger screen of 12.3 inches is a truly innovative feature that is not very common in this segment. This screen allows entertainment services to passengers in the rear seat regardless of the primary infotainment system, allowing the front occupant to be distracted less and providing practical use to families with varying entertainment requirements.

The developed BOSE audio system provides a level of sound quality that is significantly higher than the usual car audio systems, and there is clear mid-range sound reproduction, long bass response, and proper definition of the treble. The system can work with volumes that are capable of serving hearing-impaired drivers, yet the system would not distort the sound at normal listening levels, which is a feature that makes the difference between quality implementations and systems that generate auditory harshness.

The head-up display system displays important car data that is in the direct view of the driver and does not necessitate the driver to look down at the screen towards the traditional instrument panels. This aspect helps to minimize fatigue among drivers when one is driving long distances on the highway and enhances safety as the driver can always have visual attention on the road conditions. Speedometer, navigation system, and warning lights all display well without distraction and clutter.

• GC Base trim, but still solid. It comes with LED headlights, a large 14.1-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise, and more or less full safety features.

• GK This one also adds such options as wireless charging and retains adaptive cruise.

• GF In this case, there is additional safety technology such as blind-spot warning, forward collision assist, and lane-tracing.

• GF PLUS This premium model, as it should be, is a fully loaded version, which will add to your ownership experience, should you not be too worried about paying the price. It comes with Infinity audio, panoramic sunroof, HUD, ventilated seats, and a powered tailgate.

The Geely Monjaro is the most value-friendly vehicle in the compact SUV category of the UAE market, with high-end technologies, sophisticated design, and good driving performance. The engineering effort of Volvo gives it additional credibility, which makes it feel more refined than most of the Chinese SUVs. The triple-screen cockpit is also a major attraction inside, with its large central screen, digital cluster, and passenger display supplemented by a robust package of safety and comfort options, making it feel like a truly high-end, tech-oriented cabin. The 2.0L turbo engine is certain to deliver good performance on the road with decent efficiency, and the suspension and steering are set to achieve a good balance between comfort and control.

The Monjaro is worth considering for a buyer who desires a modern, feature-rich SUV without paying premiums on the Japanese or Korean brands. The Smart trim represents the most affordable option, which combines a more powerful 2.0T engine with a high-end feature list and is aimed at families who value capability and technology but do not need a traditional luxury brand.