Knaus Van TI 640 MEG Vansation

Base vehicle: MAN TGE Price from: £70,820 Berths: 3 Travel seats: 4 Length: 6.89m Width: 2.20m Height: 2.87m Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 377kg

Words: Peter Vaughan

Photos courtesy of Knaus

The Knaus Van TI 640 MEG Vansation

If you want a Fiat-based coachbuilt motorhome the permutations are almost limitless. If you want a Mercedes chassis the choices are more restricted but growing. If, however, you want the MAN TGE (sister to the VW Crafter) you must turn to Knaus.  

The specification

There are good reasons to favour the MAN, though, which we reckon is the finest driving of all the current base vehicles, especially when, as here, it comes with the 177PS engine and eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, as well as rear air suspension. Also included are adaptive cruise control, ESP, Hill Holder, air-con, active lane keeping assistant, traffic sign recognition, fog lamps with cornering function, fatigue detection, automatic LED headlights, high beam assistant and stop/start. A MAN sat-nav and DAB radio, plus reversing camera, are also part of the enhanced UK spec.

It looks smart, too, with an Indium Grey cab and contrasting, lighter Campovolo Grey habitation bodywork, as well as 17in alloys and a large, opening overcab sunroof. A 3.5m Omnistor awning is also standard, along with a motion-sensing awning light, while the sole layout on offer here has a rear garage with twin full-sized loading doors, generous 1.18m headroom and a 250kg limit. Another external feature is the ServiceBox, which puts the water filler and fresh, boiler and grey tank drain taps together in a frostproof environment. The standard habitation door comes with a flyscreen and coat hooks, but the glazed entrance including an umbrella holder and multifunctional bag, as fitted to this show model, is a £569 option.

Where the Vansation differs from previous Van TI models, though, is at the back where the FoldXpand rear wall is a fully moulded plastic panel with inset tail lights (the Knaus Cateye LED lights with dynamic indicators). That shaves 10cm off the external length, with no loss of space inside. And, keeping things compact, the Van TI is also just 2.20m wide.   

The layout

The layout is typically continental, with single beds. There’s attractively curved woodwork between the beds and a wardrobe with front and top access under the foot of each mattress. A central filler cushion between the berths is also standard, as is a third bed made from the front lounge.

Up front, the settee is a comfortable ‘L’ shape and the fixed table (approximately 590mm square) is not too dominant. Removable carpets are standard and Isofix is optional. Even the 27in Smart TV and Oyster satellite dish are included in the standard UK spec. 

The kitchen

The galley’s extra-large drawers provide practical storage and both these and the top lockers have soft closing mechanisms. There’s a 142-litre AES fridge/ freezer, but cooking is restricted to a two-burner hob and worktop is limited until you raise the flap by the door.  

The washroom

In contrast, the washroom has everything you need. The toilet is a bench cassette, the mirror is illuminated to give that Hollywood starlet feel and, more importantly, the shelves and cupboards come with fiddle rails so you don’t have to collect your toiletries off the floor after a drive on a mountain road.

You’ll want to take the long route, because this slim Knaus will be pleasant and easy to drive and, in UK spec, it matches German quality with a very impressive kit list.