Geely Monjaro - details about the most anticipated Chinese crossover in Russia

Cars from the Chinese manufacturer Geely are well known in Russia. They managed to gain not only trust, but are also considered a prestigious acquisition.


This is primarily due to the dynamic development of the company - Geely has been the owner of the notorious Volvo Personvagnar AB since 2010. Accordingly, the new models of the Chinese manufacturer are made using Swedish technology. Some people think that Geely crossovers are Volvo, only cheaper.

The most popular Geely models in Russia are called Tugella, Coolray and Atlas Pro. But there is a crossover that looks more like an SUV, which is not for sale with us yet, but is eagerly awaited - this is the Geely Monjaro.



The car is already being sold in China under the name KX11 and Xingyue L. The model has proved so popular that local drivers sign up for months-long queues. There is nothing strange in the fact that sales in Russia did not start. Who will "bother" with logistics "to distant lands" until the local market is saturated?

In Russia, the crossover is going to be sold under the name Geely Monjaro. Someone draws a parallel with Mount Kilimanjaro, but the manufacturer most likely swung at the laurels of Mitsubishi Pajero, reflecting this in the title.

Officially, it's just an African theme. After all, the predecessor of Tugella is named after a waterfall in South Africa. SUVs must prove patency in the most inaccessible places on the planet. And where are they, if not in Africa? Although, this is too much for crossovers - they have nothing to do on real off-road.

Monjaro is the largest car in the Geely lineup. It was created on the same platform as the Tugella model - CMA and is, in fact, its enlarged copy.



The length of 4 mm with a width of 770 mm makes it possible to classify the car as a full-fledged mid-size SUV. Despite its brutal appearance of the “conqueror of mud”, Geely Monjaro is a typical crossover with independent suspensions and hydraulic shock absorbers with springs.

Features of appearance

When the first photos of Geely's largest SUV appeared, even the ardent opponents of the Chinese auto industry admitted that it was beautiful and brutal. Finished off the most persistent and doubting platform, common with Volvo and an engine developed on the basis of the Swedish unit.

Outwardly, the car really looks like Volvo crossovers, and to such an extent that many confuse them. The SUV is devoid of the lightness that is inherent in Chinese models. First of all, due to the use of a special platform designed for cars of this particular class.



The manufacturer decided to create an international car, designed for foreign rather than domestic sales. Despite this, or maybe just because of this circumstance, the model is still breaking records for pre-orders in China.



The influence of Volvo is felt in front and from the sides, but behind the Chinese engineers decided to bring their own “zest” - the stern looks original due to specific optics.

How is it inside?

One has only to get into the Geely Monjaro salon, it immediately becomes clear that this car is closer to the premium class. Inside, space reigns both in the front and in the back rows.

The quality of the assembly will not be able to find fault with all the desire. Everything fits perfectly, no worse than the same BMW X5, for example. The materials are also selected of the highest quality. In general, the interior trim cannot be called flashy, it is rather stylish and restrained.

The front panel of the crossover is an example of modern manufacturability. It features two touchscreens and a separate digital instrument cluster for the driver. The front passenger thus receives his multimedia system.

Geely Monjaro, despite its impressive dimensions, is presented only in a five-seat version. The manufacturer is well aware that the third row of seats in mid-size crossovers is only suitable for transporting children and teenagers.



But the volume of the Geely Monjaro luggage compartment is impressive - it is around 550 liters, plus there is a niche for a full-fledged spare wheel. The rear row backrest folds down, more than doubling the capacity for carrying cargo. But it's hard to imagine that someone would load building materials in large volumes into the interior of such a luxurious crossover.

Engines

You should not expect something new from the Geely Monjaro power unit. Under the hood of the car there will be a 2,0-liter engine already familiar to Russian drivers from Tugella. The turbocharged engine develops 238 hp. with., that is, it will not be very burdensome for Russian owners in terms of transport tax.

There is only one gearbox that works in conjunction with this power unit - an eight-speed “automatic” from Aisin. You should not expect surprises from this node - a typical modern automatic transmission. Yes, it is expensive to repair, but the owners of a new car should definitely not think about it for the next 3-5 years.

For the domestic market, the Chinese offer front-wheel drive Geely KX11 with derated up to 218 hp. With. engine. In Russia, this modification is not planned to be sold.



In the domestic market in the Middle Kingdom, customers are also offered a hybrid version with a motor-generator. So far, the manufacturer is not going to supply it to other countries, respectively, to Russia too.

Volvo engine?

Since the Geely Monjaro engine is similar to the Tugella power unit, there is already some information on it. The main question is whether this is really the same engine that is installed on Volvo cars?

Many owners of Geely crossovers claim that they have Volvo analogues, only bought at half the price. And at the expense of the motors, the opinion is unambiguous - they are the same. But even the manufacturer himself does not make a secret of this - the power unit was really developed in collaboration with the Swedes, but it is not similar to those that are put on Volvo.



If you look at the valve cover, you can find the Lyxk & Co brand there. It is a joint brand of Geely and Volvo.



We can definitely say that Monjaro engines are not the same as those put on Volvo. Worse or better - there is no information yet, it can be collected only after a few years of operation.

Geely advertising posters have repeatedly indicated that their engine has a resource 1,5 times longer than similar units from South Korean manufacturers. Since no specific motor indices were given, these are just words.

Trials in northern Russia

The Chinese manufacturer made serious preparations before opening the start of Geely Monjaro sales in Russia. For example, at the beginning of 2022, the crossover was tested for two months in the vicinity of Surgut.

During this time, the car has covered more than 15 km. They kept the test Geely Monjaro outside, while the frost was in the range from -000 to -10 degrees. Twice the engine was never turned off for two days.



Based on the test results, the manufacturer said that the crossover has proven its suitability for operation in the most severe conditions of the Russian climate.

When to wait in Russia?

The start of sales of Geely Monjaro is scheduled for the second half of 2022. When exactly this event will happen is still unknown. Most likely, it depends on the saturation of the domestic Chinese market.

The cost of the crossover is also not reported. In China, Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro) is offered from about 1,7 million rubles.