2024 Swift Voyager 485 motorhome

Season 2024 sees Swift doubling the number of models in its Ford Transit-based Voyager motorhome line-up – as sure as sign as any that things are going well here. Hence, we now have the 4 Series – all instantly distinguishable by their overcab pods – to complement the original 5 Series of low-profile motorhomes.

Growing the family

It takes the total Swift Voyager count up to eight, with the 485 here among a quartet of newcomers. And it certainly continues the theme of generous equipment and competitive pricing along with aesthetics which will be pleasing to most eyes.

The Swift Voyager 485 motorhome is a five-berth as standard, albeit you are offered the option to go down to four travel seats if you want automatic transmission and the maximum weight kept at 3,500kg. The alternative is to go up to 3,550kg and retain the full complement of travel seating. Your driving licence will probably determine the best way to go here.

As standard, you get Ford’s powerful enough 155bhp engine with slick enough six-speed manual gearbox.

Ford cabs are particularly well equipped these days. Swift even includes a Zenec Xzent X-F285 infotainment system with 9in screen and DAB radio Apple CarPlay/Android Link and Bluetooth capabilities, also incorporating a reversing camera for a discount on your motorhome insurance. Also, the Ford Pass app includes remote locking and vehicle location facilities, Securialert that tells you if someone is tampering with the motorhome in your absence.

Over the cab, there’s sufficient space for a double bed that hinges up on struts to make it all the easier when you’re going from the cab seats to the rest of the living quarters. Just above each cab seat is a mains socket and an individually switched reading light on a stalk.

The cab passenger seat has a swivel operation, while immediately behind the driver is a double dinette with side-fixing table – the inward, rearward-facing travel seat is unbelted.

There’s a sideboard section of furniture with drawers behind the cab passenger’s seat. Set low, it helps promote a roomy feeling to the whole forward seating area.

The kitchen in the Swift Voyager 485 motorhome is along the nearside. It has a Thetford Triplex Plus cooker, which means a dual-fuel hob and a combined oven and grill.

A circular sink is to the immediate right of the hob, with a worktop extension to the right of that.

Drawers storage include provision for cutlery directly under the sink, while overhead is a rather high single locker with a central plate rack, alongside a couple of smaller, top-hinged lockers (just note the optional microwave oven will slot in up here).

To the cooker’s left is a dual-hinge doored Dometic fridge with a removable freezer compartment, total capacity of a very generous 133 litres. Above and below this are further lockers.

The washroom initially appears rather compact. It’s got a full-height tambour door, a swivel-bowl Thetford toilet and a rather neat fold-away handbasin, beyond which is a neatly moulded section that includes lighting and a couple of lockers – one with a mirror door and the other acrylic.

The Ecocamel Jetstorm showerhead has its own on/off button and is on a riser bar. Also here is a drop-down rail for hanging wet clothing etc, plus a nifty toilet roll holder designed to keep the splashes at bay.

At the back of the Swift Voyager 485, there are three fixed steps to take you up to the single beds. There’s a cushioned section between them but no facility to make into a double. Like the overcab double, the rear beds boast Duvalay mattresses on slatted bases. The fifth sleeping berth is a single from the dinette seating.

The central section between the beds has open shelving and there’s a main light switch and USB here. Indeed, the absence of high-level lockers in this rear bedroom area contributes to less of the feeling of being hemmed in that you can get from some rivals.

A standard rooflight overhead and windows with voiles and curtains to each side should take care of ventilation/daylight, while padded headboards provide all the encouragement you need to take advantage of a bracket and sockets set-up that’s all in place to take a flatscreen TV.

Bodywork is Swift’s usual almost wood-free construction with GRP shell and a 10-year warranty. The one-piece habitation door is wider than most, at 60cm, with a fixed window, waste bin and a slot for an umbrella.

At the back of the Swift Voyager 485, garage access is either side and you’ll find lighting and electric sockets as well as lashing points in here. Outside, there are also fixing points for a bike rack on the back wall.

New across the whole Swift Voyager range for 2024 are external cold water shower and gas barbecue points.

One little niggle is the amount of somewhat unsightly loose wiring we found in the backs of many lockers on this example. Also, some of the upper lockers are deep enough to warrant shelving.

Overall though, this is a very attractive blend of equipment and styling that hits an equally tempting price mark.

To find out more about insuring a Swift Voyager or your current motorhome visit our motorhome insurance discounts

Verdict: Pitch perfect for a five-berth Ford-based overcabber

Plus: Competitively priced, well equipped, roomy multi-berth floorplan

Minus: Lacks a bit of refinement in places

In-a-nutshell: The Voyager journey continues

Alternatives: Auto-Trail F-Line F-70, Bailey Adamo 75-4T, Benimar Tessoro 463, Chausson 777