Full review

Dealer special motorhomes are usually unique to just one dealership. Here, though, is a new joint venture that’s exclusive to two well-known motorhome retailers in the south. Built by the Swift Group, the Spirit is available from both Dolphin Motorhomes (with branches in Hampshire and Dorset) and Webbs Motor Caravans (Berkshire and Wiltshire).

Of course, at its heart, the Spirit coachbuilt is a Swift Escape (with nine different layouts available).

All the coachbuilts get the same ‘Spirit Pack’ which adds a long list of standard specification to the original Escape models. Most noticeably, the Fiat Ducato cabs come in an unusual Tech Flat Grey paint finish which is exclusive to these vehicles.

On the outside you’ll also note the upgraded Seitz habitation door with window, waste bin and central locking – and the illuminated stepwell light and flyscreen when you open it. Then there are external shower and barbecue points, as well as an outside mains socket. Alloy wheels and the gloss black grille, headlight bezels and skidplate enhance the looks, too, while a canopy awning (with white casing), TV aerial and a solar panel are welcome additions.

The Swift Spirit’s Ducato cab – which can be specified with a manual gearbox or optional Fiat Comfort-Matic (reducing the payload by 17kg) – comes as standard with air-conditioning, cruise control, LED daytime running lights, driver and passenger airbags, a leather steering wheel, Techno silver dashboard trim and Fiat’s high-level DAB radio with integrated sat-nav and steering wheel-mounted switches.

Bespoke upholstery and graphics differentiate the Spirit visually, while further spec enhancements include cab blinds, a Winter Pack, reversing camera, Omnivent extractor fan, illuminated wardrobe and Truma Drivesafe Duo gas change-over regulator (enabling you to use the gas-fired heating while you drive).

Whilst a variety of other popular floorplans is available, the Spirit 604 is featured here as it inherits its layout from the newest addition to the Escape range. As with a number of popular continental models (Adria Matrix Axess M 590 ST, Benimar Mileo 202, Bürstner Lyseo TD 590, Chausson 530, Rapido 604F), the new Swift is a compact (sub-six-metre) low-profile with no fixed bed but a drop-down double over the lounge.

That forward seating area consists of an L-shaped settee on the offside (with two rear belted travel seats) plus an inward-facing sofa forwards of the habitation door on the nearside and, up a small step, two swivel cab seats. The lounge can be converted into a bed measuring 2.09m by 1.39m/1.03m, while the manually lowered bed above is 1.93m by 1.27m.

To the rear of the door, the compact galley includes a three-burner hob and combined oven/grill, plus a microwave above. A folding worktop flap provides vital preparation space and a tall, slim fridge is opposite.

The washroom is sited across the rear of the motorhome and includes a separate shower, fixed corner basin, swivel cassette loo and wardrobe space.

As with all the latest Swift coachbuilt motorhomes, the Spirit is manufactured using the company’s SMART construction technique, while the Swift Command app allows you to operate and monitor certain functions from your smartphone.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read more in the December 2017/January 2018 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.