Full review

TO show how far the caravan market has come in the space of three short years, the idea of buying a brand new twin axle for less than £15,000 - let alone £12,000 - would have been utterly laughable back in 2004.

Furthermore, the Sprite Quattro can be towed by a large family estate or people-carrier rather than a 4x4. How times change.

To keep the weight down, Swift has trimmed what was already a pretty spartan standard specification, so in its 2007 incarnation, the Quattro is pretty much as basic as they come.

Perhaps the most obvious of these concessions to cost is the absence of the distinctive high-level window above the fixed upper bunk on the offside.

Combine this with the window-less door and - especially with the washroom door closed - the rear of the ‘van can be a bit gloomy.

Wander in through the door and the interior décor and fabrics are bright, lively and contemporary, combining soft furnishings with abstract patterns in grey and blue with classy-looking light oak cabinetry.



It all looks vaguely Scandinavian and not at all cheap. Only the eagle-eyed will notice the second major concession to the accountants: the nice heavy duty loose-fit carpets are replaced by fixed carpets which look decidedly thin.

While this option saves weight, it’s perhaps not the most practical solution for a caravan aimed at young families with up to four little dirt magnets on board.

Elsewhere, the huge Heki rooflight over the lounge is replaced by a smaller version, the separate oven and grill are superseded by a smaller combined unit and there’s only a three-burner hob in the kitchen.

Finally, the handy anchoring points under the fold-away lower offside bunk are dispensed with, which for a family van with a 250kg payload, is perhaps a little ill-advised.

However, it’s not all bad news on the spec front. The new Quattro benefits from the Swift Group’s smart new one-piece sides fabricated from thicker, more durable aluminium, a new pressurized water system and metal taps and a chunky (but light) domestic-style washroom door with more robust handles.

The Quattro’s real strength, however, remains its huge full-width end washroom. With a big wardrobe, separate shower and ample space to swing a couple of cats, this colossal room gives enormous flexibility - especially if smaller, more basic sites with limited facilities are on the cards, when a decent washroom like this really is a major consideration.



On the downside, the kitchen is on the cramped side for highly technical culinary adventures, as it lacks worktop space and without an external BBQ point, catering would be problematic for six.

With an all-up weight of 1572kg, the 2007 Sprite is only a couple of kilos lighter than its predecessor and will require something a bit bigger than a Mondeo or Vectra to tow it - which many of its potential customers will already have if they need to convey four children in comfort.

Our verdict:

There are other large twin-axles out there - but most cost a whole lot more and many offer only four berths, so if there are more than two kids to accommodate, they’re non-starters.

The Quattro represents an affordable alternative to these vehicles, but despite the practical layout and aggressive pricing, it falls short of being a 10-star caravan because it lacks innovation.

•    A full version of this review appeared in the March 2007 issue of Which Caravan. To order a road test reprint contact Tina Beaumont on 01778 391187.

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