MAN TGL achieves five-star safety rating

MAN has announced that its MAN TGL vehicle has achieved Euro NCAP’s top five-star rating in its latest safety test for urban distribution trucks, and has also received the CitySafe Award.

With a score of 89 per cent in the Safe Driving category, the MAN TGL – available with either a conventional or electric drivetrain – achieved the highest result in the test group. This was due in particular to its high levels of direct visibility and the optional MAN OptiView mirror replacement system with adaptive digital mirrors. The TGL also led the field in active crash avoidance, MAN reports, scoring 71 per cent in the Crash Avoidance category. It achieved 80 per cent for Post-Crash Safety.

The MAN TGL particularly impressed in its protection of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. It achieved full marks in tests involving low-speed turning manoeuvres. The turning protection system is active regardless of whether the indicator is being used.

“The MAN TGL shows how a truck for urban use can be made safer,” said Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP.

“Its five-star rating and CitySafe Award demonstrate that excellent visibility and active collision avoidance can be successfully integrated into this commercial vehicle class. MAN is setting a benchmark for what an intelligent urban truck should look like.”

In May, the MAN TGM also received Euro NCAP’s top five-star rating and CitySafe Award.

“Providing the highest possible level of safety for drivers and everyone on the road is what drives the entire MAN Truck & Bus team,” said Dr Frederik Zohm, executive board member for research and development at MAN Truck & Bus.

“We are therefore particularly pleased that, following the MAN TGM, the MAN TGL has now also achieved the top five-star rating. Good visibility and effective assistance systems are crucial to protecting all road users, particularly in urban and distribution transport. Euro NCAP’s recognition of the TGL as a benchmark is a strong endorsement of our development work.”

The MAN TGL is designed for light-duty distribution, municipal applications, tradespeople and emergency services. With gross vehicle weights from 7.5 to 12 tonnes and a wide choice of chassis, cab and body configurations, it is suitable for applications including dry and refrigerated box bodies, beverage bodies and flatbeds. The diesel TGL is available with engine outputs from 118 to 184 kW, equivalent to 160 to 250 hp. The range is complemented by the fully electric 12-tonne MAN eTGL, which delivers 210 kW or 285 hp, offers a payload of up to 6.6 tonnes and has a range of up to 235 kilometres.

Depending on specification, safety features include emergency brake assist, turning assist, lane departure warning, lane change assist and ACC Stop & Go. The optional MAN OptiView digital mirror replacement system plays a central role, says the manufacturer: exterior cameras transmit the vehicle’s surroundings to high-resolution displays in the cab, providing standard, zoom or wide-angle views depending on the driving situation. Removing the conventional mirror arms also improves direct visibility, while the expanded fields of view reduce blind spots on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. This supports the driver particularly when turning, changing lanes and manoeuvring, helping to protect cyclists and pedestrians in urban traffic.