There must be magic involved! Knaus surprises with all sorts of magic in the new Boxdrive XL. The first surprise appears immediately after boarding when boarding the seating area. Where a table leg normally gets in the way, we see – nothing!
The table appears to be floating and therefore also offers tall campers maximum legroom. You will also appreciate the extra long seat cushions on the bench.
Speaking of tall people: Thanks to the GRP high roof, the Boxdrive has a headroom of 2.25 metres. With this solution, Knaus also manages to accommodate two fixed beds for a total of four people in a six-meter-long van.
Due to the spacious bathroom, the space between the wet cell and the kitchen block is quite tight.
A fifth guest can also sleep in the seating area that can be converted into a bed (179 euros extra). The front bed can be easily pulled out manually as it is mounted on rails.
Tight lying surface
The lying area in the bow is – unfortunately a bit tight – 1.85 x 1.24 meters. If you want, you can also cancel the front bed and get another storage box in return.
The transverse bed in the rear is 1.94 meters long, the width varies between 1.42 and 1.25 meters. If you want more sleeping comfort, you can order a custom-fit EvoPore mattress with a watergel layer for the two fixed beds. Cost point: 430 euros.
The striking GRP high roof blends harmoniously into the overall silhouette of the vehicle.
The two slatted frames of the rear bed can be easily folded up, so that the storage space in the already generously dimensioned rear garage is even larger. There is also an easily accessible body battery, fresh water tank and gas bottle.
The wet cell with shower and toilet is quite spacious for this class. The wall with mirror and sink can be easily folded down and serves as a splash guard when showering.
Only the upper storage compartment is dangerously close to the shower head, so that in the worst case it can be under water. You have to accept compromises with the very narrow wardrobe between the kitchen and the wet cell.
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In practice, clothing will probably be more likely to be stored in the overhead lockers. The fact that the box drive was designed to be taller can also be seen from the narrow passage between the bathroom and kitchen block.
The same problem shows up with the very narrow and, above all, steep entry into the bed. If you are not tall and slim, it will take some practice to get into bed. The optional spacious bathroom, which costs 1100 euros extra, conjures up more space in the passage.
Attention to independence from gas
Knaus pays particular attention to self-sufficiency and independence from gas. The Boxdrive only has a 2.7 kilogram gas cylinder on board, which supplies the two-burner stove.
On request and for an extra 1099 euros, the diesel heater is also available with electric heating rods. If you also want to be out and about in winter, you should also invest in the insulating hood for the waste water tank (310 euros).
That’s something to be proud of: The MAN TGE comes standard with the 177 hp two-liter biturbo diesel and the eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Boxdrive on MAN TGE scores plus points with the powerful 177 hp engine installed as standard, the modern eight-speed automatic transmission and emergency braking and crosswind assistants.
720 euros expensive energy basic package
Despite the lavish standard equipment, our test vehicle has all sorts of extras: awning (1112 euros), outdoor shower in the rear garage (270 euros) and a cozy home package with decorative pillows and a blanket for 199 euros.
Technically, there is also a lot of special equipment in the vehicle. For example, the basic energy package, which costs 720 euros and includes a touch control panel, an intelligent charger with an output of 24 amps, two additional 12-volt sockets in the rear garage and overhead cabinet, and two additional 230-volt sockets in the garage and kitchen.
In addition, the special equipment of the test vehicle includes the TGE package for 2090 euros with electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, manual air conditioning and cruise control.
The TV package (3310 euros) with a 21.5-inch LED TV, Oyster satellite system and TV bracket provides more entertainment on the go. So the test car price adds up to a proud 86,423 euros.
