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quoteDoing the continental
As the UK’s largest single manufacturer of motorhomes, Swift tends to set trends rather than follow them. With the Select 174 here, however, it’s very much followed a van conversion floorplan that was popular across Europe before it started making waves over here.
It’s a flexible formula. It majors on the facility for a proper double bed at the back that can also be folded back to provide walk-through and/or extra storage during the day and/or for travel.
Nearly every manufacturer across the water that is involved with van conversions has variants of this in their line-ups… and now, for 2020 season, it’s Swift’s turn to get involved.
The 174 here takes Swift’s Select offerings to five. All are conversions of Fiat’s Ducato van (the 6m-long variant, in this instance), starting with the latest 120bhp engine as standard. Of course, with the conversion being British-built it means the layout is configured for right-hand drive vehicles with their sliding doors on the UK nearside.
In fact, the Swift Select 174 motorhome could sleep three – you can make a third berth from the double seat that brings the passenger travel quotient up to four. In site, turning each cab seat makes for a forward lounge with a side-fixing table that comes with a handy, swing-out extension.
Another fashion Swift has been quick to latch onto, is for a glass sunroof over the cab. Teamed with the Heki Midi opening rooflight over the main living area there’s no danger of a gloomy interior in this motorhome.
The chef gets a two-ring hob and sink combination, plus there’s a mini grill. And a three-way 85-litre fridge.
The flip-up worktop extension to the right of the kitchen will surely come in handy, as will the waste bin just inside the sliding door.
Across the corridor is the washroom, complete with swivel-bowl toilet, fixed basin and a tap that extends for use as a shower. The whole room is plastic-lined and, again, it represents good use of relatively little space.
A generous level of standard equipment covers such fittings as Truma Combi 6 heating/hot water with a gas regulator that allows the heating system to be used whilst travelling, plus a Thatcham S7 approved Swift Command Tracker (you’ll need to subscribe) for that all important peace of mind and motorhome insurance discount. Plus, there’s the Swift Command app that allows you to keep tabs on all the workings of your vehicle via your mobile device as well as the on-board touchscreen.
And, among the thoughtful touches in the Swift Select 174 motorhome are dimmable direct LED lighting (as well as ambient strips), stain-resistant soft furnishings, rigid waste pipes, easy-to-operate push-button locker door catches etc.
When it comes to your final purchase price, you’ll be with the overwhelming majority if you opt to have the £1,995 Drivers Pack (LED running lights, various external and internal trim upgrades, cab seat covers, airbags etc) and then the £1,595 Lux Pack (alloy wheels, digital radio stereo upgrade, cab blinds, solar panel, reversing sensors etc).
Luckily, at 3kg and 5kg, neither eats into what is a generous payload margin. The grey metallic paintwork you can see here is also something you’ll pay extra for… and, again, might not be able to resist.
In this video we take a look at the 2020 Swift Select 174 motorhome – inside and out!
Verdict: Euro winner brings out the best in British
Plus: Popular fixed bed floorplan, full tight-hand drive configuration
Minus: Beds not the biggest, prices rise with Pack options
In-a-nutshell: Make it a double!
There’s more information on the Select range on the Swift website. Find out more about insuring this or your current motorhome on our motorhome insurance discounts page.
Swift Select 174 factfile
| Model | Swift Select 174 |
| Base vehicle | Fiat Ducato |
| Dimensions | 6.00m L x 2.26m W x 2.72m H |
| Berths | Three |
| Travel seats | Four |
| Maximum weight | 3,500kg |
| Payload | 593kg |
| MPG estimate | 30-34 |
| RRP | From £49,025 on the road |
| Safety & security | ESC (electronic stability control) with ASR (anti-slip regulation), ROM (roll-over mitigation) and hill-holder, electronic immobiliser, remote central locking, ABS and EBD, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, Swift Command (including Tracker), VIN CHIP |
| Key options | Drivers Pack (£1,995), Lux Pack (£1,555), 140bhp engine (£1,295), 140bhp engine with automatic transmission (£3,495), SwiftShield upholstery (£795), satellite TV systems (from £1,945), Swift Command tracker subscription (£95), metallic grey paintwork (£495), awning (£795) |
wish it was not only available on a FIAT as is therefore not available as a full automatic for customers who need this option!
I owned a 2016 Accent. Virtually the same layout as this one. We kept the bed made up as a double, but eventually got fed up of the restriction it caused, so turned it back to two settee’s at the back and made the bed up each night. That was not ideal because the settee’s are not that comfortable. It would be better to have two comfortable settee’s with a drop down bed in the back. I am sorry to see that the washroom has not been changed. The wash basin in the position it is in is restricting. It should be a corner one, giving more shoulder room when perched on the loo. Perched on the loo is also another problem. It is rather high. I think Swift could put a bit more thought into their van for the price of them.
Very well presented article highlighting the many benefits of this compact motorhome
Definitely shows the positive aspects of owning this vehicle. I have actually sat in this motorhome at our local dealer and it’s every bit as comfortable as the article describes. Overall a very accurate article!