The New Monjaro vs Hongqi HS5: A Buyer's Comparison

The New Monjaro feels more engaging from behind the wheel. Its steering is precise and the suspension is tuned for agility, making it enjoyable on winding roads and in city traffic. The powertrain delivers strong, linear thrust, and the transmission shifts smoothly under most conditions. In contrast, the Hongqi HS5 is deliberately relaxed. Its steering is lighter and the suspension prioritizes a soft, isolating ride. It feels less eager but more effortless for straight-line cruising. For daily commuting, the HS5 soaks up bumps better, while the Monjaro rewards the driver who wants a responsive SUV.

The HS5 excels in passenger comfort. Its seats are wide and deeply cushioned, and the cabin is whisper-quiet at highway speeds, with minimal wind or road noise. The Monjaro’s interior is sportier with firmer seats and a slightly more active road noise at higher speeds, but it still offers good noise suppression. The HS5’s suspension tuning makes it the more comfortable choice over broken surfaces, while the Monjaro’s interior materials feel premium, though not as plush as the HS5’s leather and wood-like trim. The Monjaro has a more modern, minimalist design, whereas the HS5’s ambience is traditional luxury.

Both SUVs offer generous space for five adults. The Monjaro has a slightly more spacious rear seat in terms of knee room, and its cargo area is well-shaped for luggage. The HS5 provides ample headroom and a flat rear floor, but the Monjaro’s rear seat reclines for extra comfort on long trips. Small-item storage is better in the Monjaro, with larger door bins and a phone slot. The HS5’s cabin feels more upright and spacious, but the Monjaro’s clever cubbies and configurable cargo net win on everyday practicality.

The Monjaro features a large central touchscreen and a separate driver display, with a responsive interface supporting wireless phone mirroring. Voice control works well for climate and navigation. The HS5 uses a dual-screen layout but the infotainment can be laggy in some markets, and it lacks wireless phone mirroring. Monjaro also offers a head-up display and a more intuitive climate control panel. However, the HS5’s driver-assistance suite is comprehensive, with adaptive cruise that operates smoothly in stop-and-go traffic. Both have 360-degree cameras, but the Monjaro’s camera clarity is superior.

Hongqi benefits from a longer history of luxury production and is often backed by dedicated dealer networks in overseas markets, offering extended warranties and service plans. The New Monjaro, as a Geely product, benefits from Geely’s global parts supply chain. Owners report good reliability for both, but the HS5 may have an edge in dealer service availability in certain regions. The Monjaro’s mechanical components are shared with other Geely and Volvo models, simplifying repairs and parts sourcing. Neither model has perfect long-term data, but both brands are improving rapidly.