Meet this MAN
Ideal for long-haul transport applications (it has a GCM of 65t), the TGX is a premium truck tractor. We sourced our test vehicle – a 2018 model – from MAN TopUsed. We did this deliberately because a TopUsed truck comes with a Seal of Quality. Each truck is awarded stars – anything from one to three. A one-star truck is sold with a Certificate of Fitness (CoF), the chassis is sprayed and the body is polished. A two-star truck is older than 54 months, it has a maximum mileage of 750 000 km, the 12-month MAN TopUsed extended warranty is optional and it goes through rigorous testing and repairs.
A three-star truck has a maximum age of 54 months, it comes with the warranty, and it’s been privy to premium reconditioning, including all necessary repairs/services. A three-star truck also comes with a five-page test report. The TGX 26.540 that we tested came with a three-star rating – and it was truly in mint condition.
Our test truck was equipped with MAN’s D26 engine (more about the driveline later), which is fitted with a PriTarder. This motor is similar to the older 480 hp engines but it has been upgraded to 540 hp. The D26 is matched to a ZF AS Tronic 12-speed with no intarder (because the engine has a PriTarder).
The truck that we tested was not hooked to a trailer and therefore it carried no load.
General condition
We were very impressed with the condition of the truck. With the exception of a small mark on the upholstery of the lower bed (more about that later too), it looked quite new. Not bad for a truck that already has 275 000 km on the clock! Of course, this is not a high mileage; the drivetrain is designed to last 1.5 million kilometres. The chaps from MAN who joined us during truck testing were at pains to point out that this particular model provides operators with the best power-to-weight ratio in its class.
Stylish exterior
We have long liked the exterior of the TGX; the fact that the very latest MAN trucks strongly recommend their predecessors is no great hardship. However, it’s more than just a pretty face. The TGX also has impressive aerodynamics, which can be further enhanced with the Aero-package consisting of a roof spoiler, moveable side flaps and door extensions. The chaps at MAN tell us that this package reduces fuel consumption by 3%.
It’s very easy to enter and leave the cab; there are three well-placed steps and plenty of grab handles.
Equally enticing interior
While the exterior is easy on the eyes, the interior is both comfortable and ergonomic. The two-tone dashboard looks decidedly premium, the displays are clearly arranged and the controls are easy to reach. The height and inclination of the steering wheel can be adjusted. Speaking of the steering wheel, it’s obviously multifunctional (as is the case with all modern trucks) and it’s easy to access vehicle information, take calls or change the radio settings – without ever letting go of the steering wheel. By just tapping your thumb you can operate the radio, phone and vehicle menu on the left-hand side. On the right-hand side, you access the different cruise-control functions.
The LCD display is very easy to navigate. The user-friendly menu guidance makes it possible to call up the different operating conditions of the vehicle and diverse service information quickly and simply. The axle-load display, for example, permits the driver to make use of the full payload capacity without overloading. The quality of sound from the radio is good while an AUX/USB connection and Bluetooth connectivity are standard.
The seats are very comfortable, we loved the proliferation of storage space (that sunglasses holder is cool), the standard electric sliding roof is very nice thank you and the two beds are great places for taking a nap. We plonked ourselves on the spacious lower bed and decided that it would make for a very restful night. We also like the fact that the fabric covers of the replaceable mattresses can be washed and are made of breathable, hygienic materials. So that little aforementioned stain could easily be a thing of the past.
Efficient engine
The TGX is powered by the much-lauded six-cylinder, 12.419-litre D26 engine, which has an output of 397kW (540hp). It is an electronically controlled, turbocharged and intercooled common-rail diesel engine and it has a Euro 5 emissions rating. We were extremely impressed at its perky performance. Yes, of course, the truck was not loaded. But still, it was surprisingly quick off the mark and it pulled up gradients effortlessly.
The vehicle runs on diesel and AdBlue (it’s the only model in the current MAN range to be equipped with an AdBlue tank). According to the chaps from MAN, AdBlue is readily available throughout the country. However, if the driver does run out of AdBlue, the truck can be driven sans AdBlue. It does no damage to the truck/engine; only the emissions are affected. However, the truck does need to be rebled, so it’s not encouraged. The TGX employs Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust after-treatment technology.
One 870-litre aluminium fuel tank and one 100-litre AdBlue tank are located on the right and left of the vehicle respectively.
The engine is extremely frugal; this has been proven over and over again in comparative truck tests. It gets a little bit of help in this regard from an idling-off switch (an efficiency-enhancing technology for reducing fuel consumption through prevention of excessive idle times). The engine switches off after four minutes (this interval can be changed by MAN service) of idling. There are a couple of logical provisos: the vehicle must be stationary, the parking brake must be applied, the gearbox must be in neutral and no pedals can be pressed, for instance.
Excellent brakes
The MAN PriTarder is a highly efficient primary braking system, which delivers a braking output of 610kW and 2 500Nm of torque. It works in conjunction with 438mm disc brakes on the front and rear axles. Then there is MAN BrakeMatic with the EBS electronic braking system, including ABS and ASR, which provides for shorter braking distances. The MAN BrakeMatic electronic brake system regulates the pressure in the brake cylinders of the individual wheels.
The brake assistant, on the other hand, registers the speed and pressure with which the brake pedal is operated and optimises the brake pressure supplied through to full braking force. It recognises an emergency stop when it is initiated and immediately develops the largest possible brake pressure. We did not put this feature to the test; the roads on our test route were far too busy and we didn’t want to be the cause of road rage! However, we have tested the braking capabilities of the TGX many times in the past; it’s superb.
Another safety feature that we like on the TGX is Lane Guard System. Yes, we know that all professional truck drivers turn it off. They say it drives them batty. It doesn’t quite have the same effect on us. As transport operators will know, the electronic lane guard system permanently monitors the road ahead of the vehicle. If the driver strays from a track without activating his indicator, he is warned by an acoustic signal. It makes the sound of nails rattling from the loudspeaker on the relevant side (trust me, you will notice it and pull back into the lane!)
There’s also a standard electronic stability programme (ESP), which helps to prevents skidding or overturning. We deliberately “overturned” a MAN rollover truck before our truck test. We say “overturned” because you feel what the rollover is like without actually going over. It’s damned scary. We are forever grateful for features such as ESP!
Verdict
We reckon this MAN TGX 26.540 is well worth its price tag of R1.150 million (versus R2.2 million for the equivalent new truck). In fact, it’s a steal!
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