Geely's Monjaro EM-i plug-in hybrid reaches the UAE, from Dh130,900
AGMC has started selling the plug-in hybrid version of Geely's Monjaro SUV in the UAE, in four trims from Dh130,900 to Dh149,900, with up to 116km of electric driving.
Geely's Monjaro, one of the Chinese brand's best known SUVs in the UAE, now comes as a plug-in hybrid. AGMC, Geely's official distributor in the country, has opened orders for the Monjaro EM-i, and the launch prices put it within a few thousand dirhams of the petrol model it sits beside in the showroom.
There are four versions. The front-wheel-drive MAX costs Dh130,900. The all-wheel-drive ULTRA is Dh146,900, the ULTRA Plus is Dh148,900 and a Special Edition at the top of the range is Dh149,900. The launch offer adds free window tinting and covers the battery, the driving motor and the motor controller for eight years or 200,000km.
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine working with Geely's EM-i hybrid system and a three-speed hybrid gearbox. The all-wheel-drive versions are rated at up to 330hp and 667Nm, and Geely quotes 0 to 100km/h in 5.83 seconds. The 29.8kWh battery gives up to 116km of driving on electricity alone on the WLTP test, and up to 922km in all with a full tank and a full charge. A fast charger takes the battery from 30% to 80% in about 15 minutes.
The EM-i is a five-seater, 4.8 metres long, with 633 litres of boot space behind the rear seats and 2,183 litres with them folded, plus a full-size spare wheel under the floor. Inside there is a 15.4-inch central screen, a 12.3-inch driver display, a 25.6-inch head-up display, a 16-speaker sound system and front seats that heat, cool and massage. It can also power outside equipment, such as a camping fridge or a coffee machine, at up to 6.6kW.
It arrives in a busy few weeks for plug-in hybrids in the UAE: Toyota's RAV4 plug-in hybrid went on sale here in October from Dh154,900, so the Monjaro EM-i comes in more than Dh20,000 below it, and several Chinese brands have brought range-extended and plug-in SUVs to local showrooms this autumn.
If you are shopping for a family SUV and can charge at home or at work, most short city trips could be done on electricity alone. Orders are open now through AGMC's Geely showrooms in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and test drives can be booked on Geely UAE's website. Prices include the launch offer, which AGMC has not given an end date for, so check what is included before you sign.