Considering the rise and rise in popularity of Ford’s latest Transit as a base vehicle for motorhome’s, the only surprise is how late Swift has been in coming to the market. It’s certainly made amends for the 2023 season, though.
Island bedded and fully booted
Voyager is a coachbuilt line-up of four motorhome models and the 594 here is the sole island bed offering. It comes with a generous equipment level and all the aesthetics – inside and out – you’d expect from a 2023 motorhome from Swift.
At the back of the Swift Voyager 594 motorhome, the island double is set high enough to allow a decent level of garage storage below, but also of a height that allows you to get into bed easily, too. You might want to check beyond the garage’s side doors, though, to see if your outdoor kit can be squeezed in.
It’s an exceedingly well-equipped cab from Ford, with such niceties as automatic windscreen wipers and headlights, plenty of steering wheel controls, and, arguably the highlight, Zenec’s Xzent F285 all-singing infotainment system, topped off by a reversing camera, as well as the kinds of items (air conditioning and airbags, especially) that we come to expect as standard in a new-season motorhome.
It drives well, too, with plenty of punch from the 155bhp engine. Despite a slick enough manual gearchange, automatic transmission is definitely an even more relaxing option to consider (it also costs a lot less than in an equivalent Fiat-base motorhome).
Swift’s almost timber-free bodywork construction includes GRP outer panels and inner walls, backed by a 10-year integrity warranty. These Voyagers have a premium air, too, thanks to Ford’s Magnetic Grey cab, upmarket graphics, and 16in alloy wheels. Note, too, that the habitation door is wider than the norm, at 600mm.
For that rear island double bed, there are ledges of considerable length on each side as well as the usual his-and-hers wardrobes, shaped to optimise bed width rather than the hemmed-in feeling you sometimes get with set-ups like this. There’s also a padded headboard but the two lockers above this are so deep they don’t allow for comfortable sitting upright when you’re on the bed.
The bed itself has maximum dimensions of 1.83m x 1.43m, making it not the longest in its class. At its foot, there’s a central corridor, with a toilet room on the nearside and shower cubicle opposite – you can shut them off from the lounge and kitchen, thanks to a solid door. The tile-effect flooring here is a classy touch.
The wheel arch intrudes slightly in the shower room, but a bigger concern is probably just the one plughole. The Ecocamel Jetstream shower on a riser bar with its own on/off switch is a boon.
As well as a swivel-bowl toilet in the wee room opposite, there’s a Thetford swivel-bowl toilet and a handbasin inset into the countertop. Storage is good, with upper and lower lockers, complemented by a large mirror, toilet roll holder.
There’s still plenty of forward living space in this 7.85m long Swift Voyager 594 motorhome. The lounge features inward-facing settees either side of a fixed pedestal leg table with electrical height adjustment as well as manual sideways movement.
The tabletop is hinged so you can fold it out of the way for access from the cab through to the kitchen and beyond. For travel, there’s a forward-facing seat that pulls up from each settee base.
The kitchen itself is a space-efficient L-shape, with a Thetford’s Triplex Plus cooker (three gas burners and an electric hotplate, plus a combined oven and grill), and a circular sink next to it. The only surprise is the lack of any extra worktop.
Storage includes two high-level lockers, although you’ll lose some of this if you go for the microwave option. The cutlery drawer is a little on the small side, though.
That’s not a complaint that’s going to be levelled at the fridge, located directly across from the kitchen unit. It’s a Dometic model with a very generous 133-litre capacity, complete with removable freezer, automatic energy selection, and dual-hinged door.
Let’s take a look inside the 2023 Swift Voyager 594 motorhome:
To find out more about insuring a Swift Voyager or your current motorhome visit our motorhome insurance discounts page.
Verdict: An excellent blend of style and equipment, with the added bonus of Ford’s Transit as the base vehicle
Plus: All-round aesthetics and equipment levels, island bed comforts
Minus: Only one drainage point in the shower, no toilet room window
In-a-nutshell: All set for a luxury voyage
Alternatives: Auto-Trail F74, Bailey Adamo 75-4I, Benimar Tessoro 494
Swift Voyager 594 factfile
Model | Swift Voyager 594 |
Base vehicle | Ford Transit |
Dimensions | 7.85m L x 2.37m W x 2.87m H |
Berths | Four |
Travel seats | Four |
Maximum weight | 3,500kg |
Payload | 405kg |
MPG estimate | 28-32 |
RRP | From £67,995 on the road |
Safety & security | ESC (electronic stability control) with Curve Control, Load Adaptive Control and Roll Stability Control, Emergency Brake Assist, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, VIN CHIP, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring system |
Key options | automatic transmission (£1,795), bike rack (£315), microwave oven (£185) |
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