When MAN released an image of its all-new interior for the TGE, it stole a march on sister company Volkswagen’s big reveal for its Crafter van, which had previously been teased with design sketches. 

MAN also released details of the van ahead of its Volkswagen Automotive Group rival and gave What Van? an exclusive test drive of its new TGE. 

The new model for 2025 shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Crafter and has not undergone any dramatic changes in exterior appearance. The obvious differences are on the inside where the new touchscreen is the main talking point but there’s much more to this large van than an interior refresh. Under the skin the new MAN TGE gets 11 new assistance systems, bringing the total to 27.

New control units, as well as new radar sensors and cameras, have allowed MAN to add more ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) to the van. There’s now Blind Spot Warning and Drive Off Warning, both of which are standard on all MAN TGEs over 3.5t, while other new assistance systems include Cruise Assist, Cruise Assist Plus and Turn Assist.  

Specced up

MAN is calling this new TGE “Next Level” and the standard equipment has certainly been raised. All TGE vans will come with Fatigue Detection, Traffic Sign Information, Intelligent Speed Assist, Emergency Brake Assist, Parking Assist, Active Lane Guard System, Cruise Control and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

“It’s all about the security of the vehicle [and] the safety of the driver, but also other road users,” explains Toni Ward, van sales director for MAN Truck & Bus UK.

“The TGE Next Level really isn’t just limited to an update to the dash. With the new UNECE regulations, which come out next year, which every manufacturer has to follow on improving the safety and security of their vans, the [Volkswagen] plant in Wrzesnia is the first one to bring a vehicle out to this level.”

Production started in June with a limited-edition launch model, the MAN TGE Next Level Edition, which gets piano-black mirrors, silver boomerangs in the bumper, 17in alloy wheels in silver or black, and a “Next” badge in the grille. There’s also a special Copper Bronze metallic paint, which is an acquired taste that works better in real life than in photographs, yet has still attracted 26 customers since pre-orders began earlier in the year.

More regular UK vans will be available in a choice of three standard trim options from launch: XS, XC and XP. There will also be a repeat of the flagship Lioness trim, with upgrades including chrome side running bars.

No changes have been made under the bonnet, with the same 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and choice of manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. Early vehicles, however, will only be available as front-wheel-drive with nominal power ratings of 140hp and 180hp. The previous 102hp entry-level engine has been scrapped due to a lack of customer demand. There will also be a 165hp option that will be followed up with a 202hp front-wheel-drive model. Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vans will join the range in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 will see the introduction of a 5.5t gross vehicle weight model. Despite MAN’s heavy truck network, customers for the TGE are coming from a range of areas now with a strong retail interest in the van.

“In the first instance in 2017 when MAN had not sold vans before a lot of the customers were existing truck customers,” says Ward.

“We’ve got a great network of truck guys out there, so of course they’d go and ask [their customers] if they needed any vans. But actually it has come into its own. The work that we have done with the retail customers, with the SME customers and with key accounts means we’ve gone across the board. I think this new van will build on that – if you think about the screen itself and what that offers a customer with App Connect, if they have their own apps they can use that to push information into the screen, so you don’t need a PDA or another screen. We’re working with the factory on that.

“Take the little [digital dash] screen, that looks like a Golf or an E-Tron. For comfort for the driver, it feels like you’re driving a car, which makes it great for the driver, which is also good for the fleet manager.”

The new MAN Media Van infotainment system is certainly the most dramatic change to the TGE. A 10.4in screen is standard, but the high-end vans will get the 12.9in screen that was fitted in our test vehicle. The cabin now includes an inductive charging cradle for wireless smartphone charging as well as wireless smartphone mirroring. Other new standard features include Keyless Go, an electronic parking brake and two USB-C ports.

“The automatic handbrake is a game-changer in this vehicle,” Ward says, recounting an anecdote from a previous job where the fleet manger detailed the abuse drivers gave the handbrake. “They can’t do that with this and for a fleet manager, in terms of cost and safety, having that little button is a real game-changer,” she claims.

It may seem like a modest upgrade but that is really what this update to the TGE is all about; small but significant improvements.

A view from the driver’s seat

While the changes to the TGE are mostly consigned to the interior, from behind the wheel you’re quickly reminded of why this van has won over so many customers. The TGE (and the Volkswagen Crafter) are still the benchmark for large vans in terms of driving and comfort. These interior upgrades help cement that status with a modern upgrade, adding in many of the functions new van customers are looking for, not to mention the all-important safety systems, from lane keeping and parking assistance to more advanced systems like Cruise Assist, which combines the functions of Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Active Lane Guard System and Traffic Jam Assist to help the driver maintain distance, speed and lane position and the even more advanced Cruise Assist Plus, which consists of the functions of ACC Stop & Go as well as Emergency Assist and Intelligent Speed Assist to provide a near autonomous experience.

There’s storage everywhere and even more space for passengers – particularly those in the centre seat. Revisions to the new TGE have made a good van even better.

Electric horizon?

The previous-generation TGE was (briefly) available as an electric van but it arrived in the UK in small numbers. The eTGE required a right-hand-drive conversion; aside from a hefty cost, it also came with a limited range of around 70 miles. Executives at MAN have confirmed the TGE will not be available as a fully electric model any time soon. However, they are working on an eTGE for the future, with Volkswagen having already confirmed that it will not be introducing an electric version of the eCrafter until 2028.

Battle of the big vans electrifies

The large-van segment is shaping up to be an interesting battle ground over the coming months and years. Like the heavyweight boxing division, it has been stagnant and one-sided for many years but we’re finally seeing some challengers upping their game and getting ready to knock out the opposition. 

Tellingly, it’s the electric vans that are proving to be the instigators. While the next generation of MAN eTGEs will have to wait a while – the first generation was sold almost exclusively to a well-known parcel network and the second generation won’t arrive until 2028 if sister brand Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles sticks to its proposed timeline – there’s now huge competition from the new Renault Master E-Tech and the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter – not to mention the multiples of Stellantis vans. It’s suddenly become a dynamic market. When the Ford E-Transit first appeared in 2022, I knew there would be a reaction from rivals and although it’s taken a few years for the market to really heat up, it has quickly become competitive. Currently, I’m torn between which large van would get my hard-earned cash, which can only mean the OEMs have been doing a great job. 

George Barrow is the UK jury member for the International Van of the Year Award.