New Swift campervan for 2024: Full details revealed

Two new Swift campervans

Look at just how compact Swift’s new campervan is, this version measuring just 5.53m long. Other motorhome makers on the Continent have launched fixed bed designs on the Ford Transit but every one of them is on the longer 5.98m van – and none come to the UK as the Blue Oval will not supply manufacturers with a right-hand drive vehicle that also has its sliding door on the offside.

The price was revealed straight away, however, and, as with Swift’s (also Ford-based) Voyager coachbuilts, the Trekker will have rivals wondering how Swift does it. Fully kitted out as you see it here (the only option is an automatic gearbox at £1,795), the Trekker is £70,995.

If you want a little more space, but a broadly similar rear bed floorplan, the 5.98m Trekker X is only a grand dearer.

Both versions have a half-dinette front lounge, a central washroom and kitchen and a transverse double bed at the rear. Each comes with a pop-top (from renowned German brand, SCA), too, making the Trekker a viable four-berth, and a solar panel is fitted on the top.

Star trekking

As well as a very distinctive design – you won’t miss a Trekker on a campsite – the new Swift has all the spec you’d want. That starts on the outside with front fog lamps, parking sensors, external shower and barbecue points, framed habitation windows and an electric step at the sliding door.

The water tanks (60 litres fresh, 55 litres waste) are underslung but heated and, perhaps most important of all, the motor is Ford’s 170hp diesel.

Slide back the entry door and the half-dinette ahead of you is nicely shaped for comfort and incorporates Isofix. Any kids travelling here will appreciate the USB sockets adjacent and, if they can be persuaded to stow their gadgets for a minute or two, the pockets on the wall will be ideal and have elasticated retainers.

The slim wall-mounted table can be removed en route, or simply to create more space, but in situ it has a swing-out leaf to reach the front passenger seat. There’s a practical, automotive look to the upholstery, with Trekker logos picking up on the yellow exterior graphics, and a matching zipped storage pocket above is a neat detail.

Looking up, you’ll also see a large Heki sunroof in the pop-top’s lid, so there’s plenty of daylight here even with the top down (and despite the Trekker not having a fashionable sunroof directly above the windscreen).

Open the barn doors at the back (fitted with large Ford glazing) and you immediately see the storage that this type of campervan trades on. On the nearside, the cabinets include the Whale gas/230V boiler, a cupboard and stowage for the ladder to the roof bed (it’s not just lying around loose, as is often the case).

Then, on the offside, are the gas locker and a selection of drawers. In between, the full-height space has four fixed lashing points to secure your gear.

Fold the bed down and you’ll note the comfy mattress and the ClimaPlux springs below. There’s a window at the foot of the bed (offside) for ventilation while the only top locker is also on this side – that means there’s plenty of room to sit up with your back against the padded and backlit headboard on the nearside.

The bedroom also has 12V, 230V and USB sockets and speakers in the ceiling, where you’ll also spot the stylish strip of wood panelling and dimmable LED lighting. A short ladder is provided to ease access to the bed as the mattress is 96cm off the floor.

It's not the biggest berth – wall to wall there’s 1.84m to stretch out in, while the width of 1.18m narrows to 1.03m – but this is a very compact campervan. Many VW campers offer a similarly sized space for sleeping – if you want more, the Trekker X has a wider bed.

There’s also a bigger bed in the roof. Again, the mattress has the benefit of plastic springs beneath for enhanced comfort, while up here the measurements are 2.00m by 1.26m. There’s even just enough headroom to sleep with heads to the rear (there’s between 40cm and 81cm from bed to roof), thus avoiding that awkward twisting around once you’ve climbed the ladder.

Lighting and USBs are fitted at the front of the pop-top where, in hot weather, you can unzip the whole of the fabric for a massive panoramic flyscreened view out. Down below, blackout is by concertina blinds on the habitation windows, while blinds are also fitted in the cab.

Screen time

Strips of wood and glazing provide a stylish Ikea-esque divide between the rear bed and the campervan kitchen, so you won’t splash your pillows when you’re washing up. The stainless-steel sink and two-burner hob combination unit, from Dometic, is a typical campervan installation, while the compressor fridge at the forward end can be reached through the open sliding door.

Two drawers below and a large locker above cater for storage, while worktop space is quite generous even before you deploy the small rotating extension panel. Those that feel an oven is essential will need to head to the ‘X’ version, which also gains a larger fridge, mounted at waist height at the rear end of the galley.

Opposite the culinary quarters, the washroom (the same in both Trekkers) looks remarkably similar to that found in much larger Swift motorhomes. It’s the same folding basin that creates more room for showering – which, thankfully, is done without a clingy curtain.

Twin drains in the shower tray are another plus, while the marble-effect walls are attractive and there’s plenty of room to use the swivel cassette toilet.

Final thoughts

Has Swift’s bravery with the new Trekker paid off? I will answer that with an emphatic ‘yes’.

Not only is this a good-looking camper with its own fresh design, but it is packed with intelligent details that show real thought has gone into its use.
Whether you go for the super-compact version or the more typical 5.98m size of the ‘X’ with its bigger bed and extra kitchen kit, the Trekker is also extremely well priced.