Swift Challenger Grande 560L

This is the lowest-priced maximum width, L-shaped lounge, rear-bedroom, single-axle caravan on the market – and it mixes sophisticated looks with practicality superbly

There are two L-shaped lounge layouts in Swift’s Challenger Grande range – one on a single axle and the other on twin axles. Both have rear bedrooms and central shower rooms. The larger one, the 650L, costs £2,600 more than its single-axle sibling – and weighs 118kg more. So, if price and/or weight are constraining factors in your choice, it’s good to know that these two caravans have a lot in common, and going for the lighter, shorter option you won’t be disappointed. They’re almost the same spec (the single-axle version lacks the 30-litre onboard water tank and cold-water exterior shower of this twin-axle cousin) and the same layout; albeit one is 35cm shorter than the other. They have the same ambience.

Perhaps even more importantly, they’re both maximum-width caravans, at 2.45m, so even in the shorter one, there is a feeling of spaciousness. That’s, of course, especially in the lounge, thanks to the L-shaped seating and the consequent generous amount of floor space. And when you make up the double bed here, it’s the same size as that in the larger version, at 1.94m by 1.32m. (So, too, is the rear bed, at 1.92 by 1.43m). 

So, where has the economy of length been made? The lounge in the 560L is shorter; at 1.67m. And in the 560L the washbasin is in the centre of the shower room, backing onto the wall that divides it from the bedroom, whereas in the larger option, the washbasin in alongside the toilet, on the offside.

So, what else is on the market that is comparable, with maximum width, a rear bed, an L-shaped lounge and a single axle? There’s the Coachman Laser 545 Xtra, at £39,885, with an MTPLM of 1,750kg and a width of 2.44m. And that’s all. Twin-axle fans have four to consider. These are the Swift Elegance Grande 850, costing £48,215 and with an MTPLM of 2089kg, the Elddis Crusader Borealis with a price tag of £40,499, with an MTPLM of 1,840kg and a width of 2.45m, the Buccaneer Barracuda, at £45,499, and 1,950kg MTPLM, and of course, the Challenger Grande 650L. All of these have Alde heating.

So, the Swift Challenger Grande 560L is the lowest-priced L-shaped lounge, rear-bedroom, single-axle caravan on the market. Which makes it quite a star, in terms of figures, at least. How would it measure up on close inspection? We drove to Cheshire to find out. Leisure Sales’ extensive premises, with includes a field with hardstandings, was our venue. And we had a day to get to know this caravan that occupies an important place in the market. First impressions? The lounge is gorgeous. It’s comfortable, and with a mix of on-trend styling (white lower cabinet doors and plain fawn upper locker doors with long chrome handles). Fabrics and fine details create a cosy and opulent ambience. Tartan-inspired panels border the offside window, and glistening pale gold-coloured bands with fine vertical detail run across the top lockers, at handle level. Cushions play their part in the opulent look, too – again, pale gold, for two of them, mixing with white in an abstract pattern; the other two are dark green velvet. The curtains inject a shimmering gold hue, too.

Practicality arrives in no small measure; the cabinet under the television position is 70cm wide and contains two good-sized shelves and two slim ones. Forward of this cabinet is a shelf for books or whatever you please, and these are partly obscured by the sofa, so keeping a tidy look. There’s a desk-style aperture for cables to reach your TV from power points inside the cabinet. And, towards the forward end of this unit, a wireless charging pad (a new feature introduced for 2025).

Smart white dominates the kitchen décor, together with beige stone-effect for the surface.  With the extension hinged up into position, there’s a 1.11m stretch of kitchen surface up to the hob. The L-shape – a new feature for 2025 – creates an increased amount of surface; the section to the left of the sink is 75cm deep. The double-doored upper cabinet alongside the microwave is 80cm wide and contains racks for mugs and plates 

Two deep drawers and a drop-down front cabinet under the sink area are 35cm wide. The cabinet forward of this, in the L-shaped section, is 76cm deep and contains two shelves that pull out on runners. 

The fridge is the 133-litre tall, slimline model incorporating a 12-litre removable freezer compartment. Cabinets are both above and below it. In total, the storage capacity of this kitchen is up there with the best in this caravan’s size sector. 

Spec includes an extractor fan. Challengers have Alde heating, alarm systems with tilt sensors, Al-Ko’s ATC stability system and a 120W solar panel (upgraded for 2025 from 100W, and a Truma Waterline for connection to a tap on a pitch.

 While the 560L – and also the 650L – have central shower rooms, there’s something surprising and cleverly designed about the way that the shower rooms are divided from the bedroom. There are two doors here – one leading from the shower area on the nearside, and the other leading from the toilet area, opposite. Both slide into the central area of the wall. So you can choose to just use one, or use either. 

In the 560L, the washbasin sits in the centre of the room, with a mirror above it and a cabinet below. A panel radiator is on the nearside, conveniently below the towel loop, so towel-drying efficiency is pretty much guaranteed. 

The shower is a stylish affair, with a black riser bar mount surrounded by a rim of light. Shelves for shampoos sit on each side of it.

The bedroom is super-cosy in style. The same tartan-type fabric that is used for the panels alongside the offside lounge window appears here; they’re neater than curtains, and deeply upholstered, and so contribute to the cosy ambience of the room. So, too, does the upholstered bedhead, reaching all of the way up to the lockers.

Wardrobes are 44cm wide and with cabinets of the same width beneath. The table is stored inside the nearside wardrobe. Both of the wardrobe doors have mirrors. And in front of the wardrobes there are shelves (25cm by 45cm) for phones, mugs etc. 

At the foot of the bed a TV position sits on the wall; connections are here, together with a shelf running the whole length of the centre section of the wall between the doors; somewhere to put the remote control and much more.

And small things count, like the double coat hook close by the entrance door. 

The 560L is lower on both price and weight than the only other model with which it’s truly comparable, its twin-axle sibling. Its full-fat 2.45m width gives its lounge – in particular – a lovely feeling of spaciousness. The unique-to-Swift two-door bedroom entrance system creates useful options. And its new-for-2025 kitchen shape creates extra surface. All in all, this is a cracking caravan.