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quoteA touch of Elegance
Flagship stuff, this. You can always rely on Swift to produce something special… and here’s a great example.
You’ve every right to expect a lot for a £28,500 outlay on a new tourer. Indeed, at this price level most folk have had their eyes turned by a twin-axle. But, this is the second lowest-priced of six Elegance models from Swift this season – and you could argue the only thing that’s traditional about it is the floorplan.
The end washroom, side-dinette four-berth formula certainly harks back to a pre-permanent bed yesteryear, but that’s not to dismiss the attractions of such a layout for couples or parents with a couple of kids. For two, it makes sense – you can use the dinette at mealtimes without worrying about any food and drink spillages affecting your main lounge area. Ditto for four, where two kids will sleep happily in the bunk beds converted from the dinette seating, enclosed by their own privacy curtain.
Arguably, the only effort needed with a caravan like this is, indeed, when it comes to bedmaking. The front settees can act as single beds (one short, one long – do check it meets your needs) or a pretty generous 1.98m x 1.78m double.
In daytime setting, it’s a generous lounge, with central chest of drawers and a panel of sockets (mains, TV, USB, 12V) to cater for your electrical needs, and a fixed sunroof plus opening Heki Midi rooflight. An alternative location for your TV could be the ledge between the lounge and the side dinette.
Also, Swift Command means you don’t have to leave your seat to operate the lighting, gas and electrical fittings – you can do it all via an app, even when you’re away from your caravan.
Furniture is from the Italian specialist manufacturer Tecnoform, plus lots of plastic mouldings and a two-tone finish to the locker doors. Two-way access to the settee bases means it’s easy to get at whatever you want to stow here.
It’s an excellent kitchen, along the mid-‘van nearside, with permanent worktop either side of the inset sink and Dometic cooker (dual-fuel hob, separate oven and grill; complemented by a microwave oven). The only surprise is it’s only a standard-sized fridge here (110 litres, but it does have a removable freezer compartment if you want to use it wholly as a chiller), rather than the larger fridge/freezers that are increasingly becoming the norm. The only other quibble is the cutlery drawer isn’t the biggest.
That kitchen is arguably trumped by the washroom at the back. Taking up the full width of this Elegance caravan, there’s space for a properly-lined shower cubicle – complete with Ecocamel’s efficient showerhead and twin plugholes – fixed basin, swivel-bowl toilet plus wardrobe and clothes storage, and a radiator-cum-towel warmer – and there’s dressing space, too.
Alde’s “wet” central heating system will certainly keep things cosy. It’s just one fitting on what is an almost endless list of standard equipment that you can only check out for yourself.
The Swift Elegance 530’s bodywork uses Swift’s very latest Smart HT construction. It’s timber-free, with GRP cladding, a five-layer floor, flush-fitting windows, front faring with integrated steps, back panel with fixings already in place for a bike rack etc. It’s all very streamlined. Also, the roll-call of security features, including Swift’s tracking system, as standard means you’ll claw some money back with a reduced caravan insurance premium.
Verdict: Traditional layout reborn for 21st century touring
Plus: True blend of style specification and practicality
Minus: The usual price and weight factors
In-a-nutshell: Elegance by name… and nature
There’s more information on the Elegance range on the Swift Group website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: Coachman VIP 520, Lunar Clubman ES, Vanmaster V640 TB
Swift Elegance 530 factfile
| Model | Swift Elegance 530 |
| Dimensions | 7.01m L, 2.26m W, 2.61m H |
| Internal length | 5.45m |
| Berths | 4 |
| MTPLM | 1,650kg |
| Payload | 151kg |
| RRP | from £28,535 on the road |
| Safety & security | Thatcham Cat 6 tracker (subscription to pay), Al-Ko ATC, infra-red alarm system, Al-Ko Secure wheel lock, AKS 3004 stabiliser, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, CRiS identity numbering and concealed data chip |
| Key options | Alternative upholsteries (£195), SwiftShield upholstery finish (£395), wraparound cushion and backrest (£175), cycle rack (£288), Oyster satellite TV system (from £2,248), Cytrack system (from £1,906), air conditioning (£1,500), Swift Command Tracker annual subscription (£95) |
The layout of the elegance 530 is excellent. like the layout of the shower. Great having a good shower in the Van. Great size living area.Very pleased I didn’t get a van with a fixed bed as they reduce the size of the living area.
why doesn’t a caravan manufacturer look at what a the average user needs. again a new caravan with a shower area that probably wont ever be used. I talk to lots of other vanners and we all of the same mind – we use the shower block on site the shower in the caravan is never used and this space could be better served as for example a wardrobe. I for one will be staying with my older van – there’s no point in buying new.
What I would call a good traditional layout as well. Our Bailey Milan 2 is the same. With the Bailey we had the choice to not have the central chest of drawers. This is something we looked for, as with the central chest of drawers it means that you can end up injuring yourself during restless sleep patterns. To us fixed beds seem to be a huge waste of the very limited space that a family of four will need, especially when everybody is quite tall. Try sitting four people in the lounge of a fixed bed four berth when both the parents are over six feet and the just-teen and pre-teen are well on their way to being nearly as tall as well. So this layout is more suited to the taller family you could say.