MAN TGE Review 2024

MAN TGE At A Glance

4/5

+Access to MAN trucks dealer and service network. Good to drive. User-friendly. Plenty of versions so suit individual needs.

-Some of the best convenience features are optional. Interior isn't as plush as a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

You could be forgiven for never having heard of MAN – they’re new to vans. But they’re not new to commercial vehicles, with a comprehensive, highly-rated range of trucks and coaches, as well as a large dealer and servicing network across the UK and Europe.

And that’s why its new TGE is such an important new van. MAN made a special effort to explain that it’s a commercial vehicle maker, not a car maker with a range of vans. So you’ll get access to that network, which has longer opening hours and provides 24-hour roadside assistance. In 2018 the TGE range was expanded to include dropside, tipper and Luton bodies.

Obviously, that would all be for nothing if the van was terrible, but pleasingly that’s not the case. It’s effectively the same as the Volkswagen Crafter and is built in the same plant. It has the same strong, refined engines and the same excellent convenience tech including trailer parking assistance. In short – it’s great.

The naming structure looks a little confusing but the first digit shows the vehicle’s payload. The numbers after the point show power – so a TGE 3.180 has a 3.0 tonne payload capacity and has a 180PS engine. All versions get the same 2.0-litre TDI, with 102PS, 122PS, 140PS or, in Bi-Turbo form with 177PS.

As with the Crafter, there's front-wheel, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive options, with manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. Go for a rear-wheel drive model and gross vehicle weight is up to 5.5 tonnes. Standard, long and extra-long variants are offered with standard, high or super high roof options.

You can also get combi versions, as well as chassis cabs and chassis crew cabs for conversion to a range of different vehicles including tippers and box vans. Stick to the panel van and max cargo length is up to 4855mm, with a maximum internal height of 2189mm for the super-high versions.

Pricing is on par with the Crafter, so if you think a stronger service and maintenance offering is important for your company it’s very easy to recommend – especially if you have a fleet of vans. That said, if you only want a single van for your smaller business a Volkswagen Crafter is probably just as good of an option – so speak to both dealers before deciding.