2023 Swift Monza campervan

An all-new campervan from Swift, the Monza debuted in 2022 and has been storming the sales charts ever since, picking up awards along the way.

Ford to the fore

Blending the high-spec’ Tourneo Custom Titanium from Ford with a typical campervan format, albeit again very generously equipped, certainly looks highly promising. As does the sub-£70,000 starting price.

That includes a choice of metallic paints at no extra cost, starting with the Magnetic Grey, Diffused Silver, Chrome Blue and Orange Glow.

We take a look around the Chrome Blue Swift Monza here:

As standard, Swift Monza campervans come with the 130PS/128bhp engine with six-speed manual transmission – a combination that will be more than adequate for must buyers, although the temptation is there to trade up to the more powerful 170PS motor and/or more relaxing automatic transmission.

You certainly get the most car-like of cab environments. The only surprise is the lack of sat nav. For that you’ll have to rely on the infotainment system’s Apple Carplay/Android Auto connectivity. Another particularly useful feature is the Ford Pass app, which includes Securialert – it  warns if anyone other than you has unlocked or gained access to your vehicle.

The Ford base also comes with twin sliding doors, the offside put to good effect by Swift – the Monza design allows you to access the portable toilet (for emptying) as well as an external shower attachment.

Inside, it’s a typical campervan floorplan – side furniture unit with a rear bench seat/double bed. Key fittings like the elevating roof (from SCA), Eberspächer blown air heater and Dometic kitchen kit, are instant indications that there’s been no downgrading to lesser items.

The rear seat is a Reimo Variotech unit on rails – it gives all-important extra flexibility when it comes to prioritising daytime space (push the unit all the way back) or luggage carrying (all the way forward).

It also easily turns into a flat bed at night. Indeed, at 2.05m x 1.11m it’s the larger of the two doubles.

SCA’s roof bed, though (1.89m x 1.10m) has a one-piece mattress over plastic springs that might prove to be the more comfortable – also, if you’re using the Monza as a couple the upper bed is often the better option, allowing you to leave everything down below in situ without any packing away needed. Swift provides a folding ladder to make access all the easier.

Along the Monza campervan’s offside, the kitchen comprises the usual two-gas ring hob and sink combination, plus a 42-litre fridge with pull-out drawer frontage.

There’s a free-standing table to dine at and the cab seats are easy to swivel, thanks also to the drop-down handbrake.

That table can also be used outside, of course, although its stowage location, on the back of the Reimo seat, won’t appeal to all users.

Kitchen storage includes drawers and a very handy pull-out shelf rack immediately behind the driver, plus lockers over the kitchen unit itself (always handy for smaller items that might otherwise get lost in the larger lockers below).

Beyond the kitchen, a tambour door slides back to offer a choice of wardrobe or a deep locker with a removable shelf. There’s also a mains socket in here.

There’s no shortage of interior lighting. Nevertheless, if you think the furniture makes the interior too dark do note there’s a cream finish available, at no extra cost.

Overall equipment is very impressive. There’s everything as standard, from the 100Watt solar panel on the roof to the extra-wide Thule electric step and Reimo multi-rail with LED strip light at the nearside sliding door, to underslung fresh and waste water tanks (40 litres apiece).

The interior locker for a 6kg propane cylinder is overkill, especially as it’s only the cooker that uses gas. The heater is diesel-powered and the compressor fridge 12V/230V.

That small gripes apart, this Swift Monza is a highly impressive campervan that really does hit the mark.

There are plenty of safety features fitted as standard, such as a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring, but you’ll also want to consider fitting a Cat 1 alarm or Thatcham approved tracking device to protect your purchase. This will also attract a campervan insurance discount, alongside those reversing aids.

To find out more about insuring a Swift Monza or your current campervan visit our campervan insurance page.

Verdict: Swift hits the high road

Plus: Ford Pro Convertor conversion, very generously equipped base vehicle and conversion, keen pricing

Minus: Table storage point could be tricky, loose storage only for ladder, 2m-plus overall height

In-a-nutshell: Campervan cracker!

Alternatives: Autohaus Spartan GT, Auto-Sleeper Air, Wellhouse Misano 4