Full review

Swift’s new Sprite Lite range – the ultra lightweight spin-off of the Sprite range for 2012 – has provoked a mixed reaction.
Sprite is most often associated with family caravanners, but some of the Lite range simply don’t work as family layouts, although they do make sense for couples looking for a very lightweight caravan.
Based on the previous Sprite Musketeer TD, the new Sprite
Lite 5, really does convince us that it will be popular as a lightweight family tourer. As soon as you step through the two-piece stable door into the open-plan lounge, you know it’s going to work.
 

Washing

Located on the rear offside, the washbasin and toilet compartment is quite a roomy affair. But, as in all the Sprite Lites, it’s lacking a shower. There’s a simple Thetford C-200 swivel loo and a corner washbasin with storage below, and a large vertical mirror above. Another shelf is over the loo.
A mixer tap supplies hot and cold water. But there’s no means of ducting warm air from the heater in here. The clever bit is the angled door, which hinges into two sections, so it takes up half the floorspace of a solid door.
Whether the lack of a shower suits you or not is down to the sort of campsites you choose. As long as you’re happy using the site’s shower facilities, then the absence of a shower in the caravan probably isn’t a big issue. But if the prospect of using a busy shower building with three tiny tearaways in tow fills you with dread, then the Sprite Lite 5 may not be for you.
 

Sleeping

Mum and dad will make use of the  transverse double bed which is easily made up in the lounge, leaving the children to bunk down in the rear dining space. This area converts to a longitudinal double bed with a pull-up bunk above. It’s a bit of a faff to set up. But, with just two children aboard, there’s no need to use the bunk unless they won’t settle down side by side. The kids’ dormitory can be curtained off.
 

Storage

With a realistic payload of 155kg, the Lite 5 should swallow most of the clutter that comes with modern family life. There are seven eye-level cupboards, with positive locks, located around the caravan. The large one above the hob has wiring in place for a microwave. With family mealtimes in mind, a microwave is a desirable addition which many buyers of this model will want to choose. There’s another large locker over the dresser and shelves near the heater. Lower storage in the kitchen is generous owing to the absence of an oven. With under-seat storage in both the rear dining area and lounge, plus a large double-doored wardrobe, the Lite 5 does have plenty of storage space. More shelving would be welcome, though, and the designers have missed the opportunity to provide this in both the wardrobe and toilet room.

Dining

Such a flexible layout obviously offers a number of dining options, meaning parents and children can dine together or separately and at different times. The lounge will seat four around the large stand-alone table. Up to three children can dine in the rear area, although we noticed that the table was a little on the high side. Bringing in booster seats from the car for the smaller ones would cure this problem. This dining flexibility really comes into its own in the morning, when early-rising kids can have their breakfast at the back while at least one parent can still enjoy a lie-in up front.
 

Lounging

Separate areas for parents and kids is the holy grail for family caravans and the Lite 5 manages this on a very compact footprint. While mum and dad put their feet up in the front lounge, the children can be playing or colouring in the dining area. It doesn’t always work quite like this all the time but, given their own space, kids are usually happy to occupy it and give mum and dad a bit of breathing space.

Kitchen

The kitchen is very basic, with just a two-burner hob, grill and no oven, but it will cope with preparing simple cooked meals for a family. There is a reasonable amount of worktop space and there’s plenty
of storage, although pull-out racks or some simple shelves would
be welcome.
   The three-way fridge has a reasonable 107 litres of usable space and a freezer compartment for ice lollies – essential equipment for kids in summer. 
 
 

Towing

Even fully laden, at 1137kg, the   Lite 5 can comfortably be towed by humble hatchbacks like the Golf, Astra and Focus. Because it’s so light, however, we think the AL-KO hitch head stabiliser should be included as standard to help cope with the potential hazards posed by cross-winds.