MAN TGX

From the TGA to the TGX (2007)

The TGX took over from the TGA as MAN's flagship long-haul truck in autumn 2007, when it was presented in Amsterdam. The TGS arrived at the same time. The TGX took the long-distance role with the biggest cabs, while the TGS was aimed at construction, distribution and regional work. Below them sit the lighter TGM and TGL, and together the four models form the TG range. For the company behind it, see the history of MAN.

At launch the TGX came with a choice of three sleeper cabs. It was named International Truck of the Year 2008, the first of two such titles for the model.

The table below gathers the main steps in one place. Years that sources give only approximately are marked as such.

Cabs: XL, XLX, XXL and the GN, GM, GX

Every TGX has a sleeper cab, and the two generations use different families of them. The first generation offered three: the XL, the XLX and the XXL. The XL is the smallest, the XLX sits in the middle and the XXL is the largest of the three. Claims in older articles that the XXL has about 2 m of standing height do not have a firm source, so they are left out here.

The 2020 truck replaced all three with the GN, GM and GX, with the GX as the tallest. The new cabs also brought a new dashboard and controls, covered in the 2020 section below.

MAN's own specification pages list exact cab dimensions for the current trucks. They depend on the cab, the roof and the axle configuration, and the site's spec tables for each version carry them.

Engines: D20, D26, the V8 and the D38

The TGX has used four main diesel engine families over its life: the D20 and D26 inline-sixes, the D28 V8, and the D38 inline-six that arrived with Euro 6. The second generation added the D15 and D30 to the list. All are diesel six-cylinder in-line units except the V8.

The V8 and the move to the D38

The D28 V8 draws the most interest, and it was the only V8 in the TGX range. With 16.2 litres and 500 kW (680 PS) it was the top option of the Euro 5 truck. It did not continue into Euro 6. From that point the largest engine was the 15.2-litre D38, which MAN quotes today at 397–471 kW (540–640 PS). Sources do not agree on the exact year the D38 appeared, so the table gives 2012–2013.

The D26 is the long-running middle choice. Fleet News tested a TGX 18.500 with the D26 at 500 PS (373 kW) as a 6x2 midlift tractor. The D20 covered the lower power band in the first generation; its exact Euro 5 power ratings vary between sources, so no range is quoted here.

Torque figures are not given for any engine because no source checked for this article lists them for the TGX itself.

Transmission and driveline

The first-generation TGX was offered with a ZF 16-speed manual gearbox or the 12-speed automated TipMatic. In the 2020 generation the TipMatic is usually described as based on ZF's TraXon. An optional PriTarder retarder is listed for the first generation, and MAN marketed fuel-saving functions under names such as EfficientCruise.

The TGX comes in several axle layouts. MAN lists 4x2, 6x2, 6x4 and 8x4 among the configurations, with tractor units and rigid chassis.

MAN TGX specifications

The table gives the current, second-generation TGX as MAN lists it, with the D38 as the top engine. Power is quoted in kW first and in metric PS, as MAN does.

The warranty row belongs to the first-generation truck and comes from a UK review in October 2018, so it may not match current terms. Gross combination weights, fuel use and torque are absent on purpose. They depend on the market and the exact truck, and no neutral source was available. Comparable data for other vehicles sits in the car catalogue.

The 2020 generation

The second-generation TGX premiered on 10 February 2020 in Bilbao, alongside new versions of the TGS, TGM and TGL. It kept the TGX name but brought new cabs, a new driver's workplace and revised engines.

The biggest visible change is inside. The GN, GM and GX cabs have a digital instrument cluster and the SmartSelect rotary controller for the infotainment and navigation menus. The engines cover 9.0 to 15.2 litres, with nine power levels from 330 to 640 PS at launch. MAN claimed up to 8% lower fuel consumption than the previous truck; that is the manufacturer's figure, not an independent test result.

The new truck was named International Truck of the Year 2021. MAN also offers a top-specification Individual Lion S package for the TGX.

In its class the TGX competes with the Mercedes-Benz Actros, the other German contender, as well as the DAF XF, Volvo FH and the Scania long-haul range. All five offer large sleeper cabs, inline-six diesels and automated gearboxes, so the choice often comes down to dealer network, fleet policy and driver preference rather than a single headline figure.

Electric and hydrogen: eTGX and hTGX

The eTGX is the battery-electric version of the TGX, and MAN delivered the first ones in October 2024. Series production of MAN's battery-electric trucks started on 16 June 2025 at the Munich plant.

MAN quotes a usable battery capacity of 480 kWh, from about 534 kWh gross. Motor outputs of 330 kW and 400 kW are given by several sources. The truck can charge through CCS at up to 375 kW and through the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) at up to 750 kW, according to its UK launch coverage.

Range figures differ between sources. MAN's series-production announcement in 2025 gave up to 500 km (311 mi), while earlier launch coverage in 2024 quoted much higher numbers. The 500 km figure is the safer reference.

The hTGX takes a different route. It is described as a hydrogen truck with the H45 hydrogen combustion engine and was shown in 2024.

Reliability and the used-truck view

For buyers of a used TGX, the main question is the engine's emission generation. UK trade reviews link most of the reported problems to Euro 5 trucks and their exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems. Fleet News mentioned EGR cooler issues in the early trucks, and in April 2015 MAN wrote to operators about checks on the EGR system of D26 engines.

Recalls give another view. A 2018 Autotrader review counted 16 DVSA recalls for the TGX since 2007 in the UK. That is a figure for one market up to October 2018, not a reliability rating, and recall work done under warranty should appear in the service history.

A few points help when looking at a first-generation truck:

• Check whether the engine is Euro 5 or Euro 6, because the EGR issues mainly concern the earlier trucks.
• For a D26, ask whether the 2015 EGR checks were carried out.
• Run the chassis number through the DVSA recall service in the UK, or ask a MAN dealer elsewhere.
• Remember that the V8 was not carried into Euro 6, so any V8 truck is a Euro 5 or earlier one.

Values and prices are not given here, as they change quickly and depend on mileage, axle layout and cab. Background pieces on other makers and their trucks are collected in the articles section.