Price £45,795 Berths 4 MTPLM 2051kg
WHEN SOME IDEAS catch on, they are suddenly everywhere. It seems like only yesterday that 8ft-wide caravans were the new thing in the UK, having become fairly popular on the Continent already.
Now they are so common that Swift no longer offers its most upmarket Elegance in what you might call a conventional width. For the 2023 season, they have all become Elegance Grandes – and all twin-axles.
It’s what you might expect from a range that, when introduced in 2014, considerably raised the bar in caravan design with its SMART construction. For a while, Swift was so confident in how this timberless system had evolved, it offered a lifetime water-ingress guarantee on new models.
That no longer applies to the latest vans, partly due to a change in suppliers, but a Swift Elegance is still clearly something many caravanners aspire to.
We had a quick look at the new Elegance Grande 845, with a rear washroom and a transverse island bed, when it was launched last year. But we thought that it was due a closer inspection, with an overnight stay at Cote Ghyll Caravan Park, near Osmotherley in North Yorkshire, this summer.
Design
Along with that widening, Elegance models were also treated to a new look both outside and inside this year. On the exterior, that means new front and rear GRP panels. The front panel contrasts with a graphite gas bottle locker door, while the rear panel is graced with new LED light clusters.
The chrome ‘Elegance’ lettering is a real touch of class, and this year you also get diamond-cut alloy wheels. Red and black decals on the side add a touch of sportiness.
Towing
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Practical Caravan.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 2023 de Practical Caravan.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
SPRITE ALPINE 4 (2019)
Just the job for those after a four-berth, side fixed-bed arrangement, says Andrew Jenkinson
Tackling the Tissington Trail
No need for Lycra or burning lungs, when there's a much easier way to explore this pretty part of Derbyshire, as Peter Rosenthal discovers
All mapped out
Hereford and Hay-on-Wye provide route maps for an enjoyable break, Andria Massey discovers
Making a home run
A meander through the middle of England allows Susan Taylor to enjoy an easy getaway from her doorstep
48 HOURS IN...LUDLOW
Our regular series highlights top attractions and itineraries to help you make the most of a weekend visit
BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station
Carry one of these units on tour and you'll have power wherever you need it, says Paul Critcher
How to choose your PERFECT CARAVAN
You've decided to buy a caravan, but how do you pick one that's just right for you? And how do you avoid the common pitfalls? We take a look at what you need to know
BAILEY REVEALS NEW PHOENIX GT75 RANGE
The Bristol manufacturer has revamped a best-seller to mark its anniversary
COACHMAN LASER XTRA 665
The revamped 665 offers 'home-from-home' levels of comfort and luxury, ideal for couples on tour
SWIFT ELEGANCE GRANDE 845
This luxurious twin-axle provides plenty of payload, but you will need a substantial vehicle to tow it