Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI
Built: 2003 · Series: LT46
More machines from model year 2003
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Volkswagen LT46 – the 4.6-tonne version of VW's large van: panel van from various wheelbases to crew cab, 2.5- and 2.8-litre TDI engines, 75 to 116 kW, lengths of 5,590 to 8,300 mm
The Volkswagen LT46 is the 4.6-tonne gross-weight version of the second-generation VW LT, which Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz developed jointly and built from 1996 at VW's commercial vehicle plant in Hanover-Stöcken and at Mercedes' Ludwigsfelde plant; technically the LT shared its platform with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. In Volkswagen's traditional commercial-vehicle naming, the number in the type designation — 28, 35 or 46 — gives the gross vehicle weight in hundreds of kilograms, LWB marks the long wheelbase and DOKA the crew cab.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 18 versions with 75 to 116 kW from 2.5- and 2.8-litre TDI engines with four or five cylinders, a consistent gross vehicle weight of 4,600 kg, unladen weights of 2,190 to 3,700 kg, lengths of 5,590 to 8,300 mm and widths of 1,990 to 2,210 mm.
As the heaviest LT variant, the 46 served the segment just below the 7.5-tonne licence threshold and was in demand with haulage firms, trades businesses and as a base for box-body conversions and motorhomes; competitors included the long-wheelbase Ford Transit and the Iveco Daily.
When buying used, check for rust on the sills, chassis side members and lower door edges, the condition of the clutch and manual gearbox at high mileage, and leaks from the injection pump on the early TDI engines; wear and body parts are supplied through the shared VW/Mercedes parts pool, with engine parts partly shared between the two brands.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Volkswagen LT46, Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 116 kWcorrect |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 2,794.5 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 6,760 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,210 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 3,700 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 4,600 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 5correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 31.4 kW/t (116 kW / 3.7 t)
Stronger than 11% of the trucks in the register — out of 25,242 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI have?
The Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI delivers 116 kW.
How much does the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI weigh?
The unladen weight is 3,700 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI?
4,600 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI have?
4 cylinders, 2,794 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI?
6,760 mm × 2,210 mm.
When was the Volkswagen LT46 2.8TDI built?
Production years: 2003.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
LT46
LT46 2.5TDI-2DX0AE-KASTEN/355
LT46 2.5TDI-2DX0AE-KASTEN/403
LT46 2.5TDI-2DX0FZ/355
LT46 2.5TDI-2DX0FZ/403
LT46 2.8TDI-2DX0AE-KASTEN/355
LT46 2.8TDI-2DX0AE-KASTEN/403
LT46 2.8TDI-2DX0FZ/403
LT46 2.8TDI-2DZ2H/403 DOKA
LT46 TDI LWB
Sources: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Truck in 3D section
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