BEST FAMILY MOTORHOME
WELCOME back the overcab bed! Over recent years, low-profile motorhomes with drop-down beds have almost seemed like they were pushing their luton overcab rivals towards dinosaur-like extinction. But, perhaps, not any more. Swift, Britain’s largest maker of motorhomes, campervans, caravans and holiday homes, still has faith in this type of vehicle, as witnessed by the arrival of the new Voyager 4 Series.
Family buyers could opt for the 485 model on the following page, but it’s the 475 that would be our top choice for touring with kids. It sleeps five and has five seatbelts to match and key to its success in the family market will be a keen price. While some motorhome costs have been rising faster than a moon-bound rocket, Swift has kept the new Voyager below £70k, if only just. Despite its ‘full-sized’ 7.54m overall length, you can drive this model on a standard car licence, too.
That price isn’t just a starting point before things escalate with essential packs. The only factory option is the Ford automatic gearbox, while a bike rack and microwave can be added by your dealer.
Inside, the layout is a classic, with a front pullman dinette and a rear lounge, while the washroom and kitchen are amidships. What’s surprising – and so important when you travel mob-handed – is the feeling of space. Partly, that’s due to the slightly wider bodywork here (2.37m overall) but an even greater influence is the design up front, where the typical side seat has been replaced by a slim chest of drawers that’s also the perfect place for your telly. As a result, the aisle feels wide and open.
It’s important, too, that the overcab bed (1.92m by 1.34m) tips up out of the way, simply lifting on gas struts (no complex electrics here). And, when it’s dep
