Say g'day to the Swift. As revealed in our News section this issue, the newest caravan brand to go on sale in Australia is British. Swift has been crafting caravans since the mid-1960s. These days most Poms know it as the Thoroughbred of Touring Caravans.

To hammer home its claims, Swift's Charisma walked away with the 'Best Touring Caravan' at last year's (2007) Practical Caravan Magazine (UK) Awards. And that, friends, is no small thing - winners are selected based on value for money, innovation, layout and quality; think of it as Australia's Best Cars for caravans.

In Australia, Swift launches with the Sprite, Charisma, Challenger and Conqueror models. The big question most sceptics will be asking is: can Swift cut it in the Australian market?

Well, given the success of other overseas-built caravans, one would have to say a resounding 'yes'. According to British colleagues, the Swift range has always felt more luxurious and expensive than it actually is.

So will Swift blow the other Euros out of the water and give the Aussie market a shake-up? We hitched up a Charisma to find out.

Talking technically

Compared to the complexities of designing and building a car of similar value, building a caravan is hardly rocket science. Despite that, Swift pays close attention to aeronautical principles by using a wind tunnel to assist in its caravan development. With higher motorway speeds, more expensive fuel costs and less powerful tow cars in Europe compared to Australia, low wind resistance and low weight are essential. The Swift comes in at around 1260kg, a couple of hundred kilograms less than many other similarly sized caravans.

The Swift Charisma can be considered a semi-monocoque design, with the body and chassis both contributing to the structure of the van.

It rides on an AL-KO modular pressed steel chassis that tapers fore and aft from the axle line, putting strength where it's needed and reducing weight where it isn't.

Rather than being welded together, the main chassis members, the drawbar and axle are bolted to each other. The axle is a drum-braked AL-KO torsion rubber set-up riding on 15-inch wheels and light-truck tyres.

The walls of the Swift are a foam sandwich (which means it's cool in summer, warm in winter) with reinforcing plates where required, putting strength where it's needed without adding excess weight. The Swift's front and rear caps are fibreglass-reinforced plastic.

The lid for the generous-sized front boot rises on a gas strut but with the LPG bottles mounted front and centre and with Aussies' love of carrying junk everywhere, gaining access past them is tight unless they are relocated sideways (an easy task). The spare tyre is also mounted underneath on an ingenious rack that means you don't have to lift it.

Inside, the engineering goes deep below the attractive timber decor, too. For instance, the curved wooden-faced cupboards use injection-moulded plastic frames to reduce weight and provide a consistent fit 'n' finish. The drawers are plastic-framed rather than stapled cardboard, roll easily on quality runners and are held shut with magnetic catches. The walls are manufactured in a continuous sheet, with computer-controlled rig-drilling of furniture mounting points and the list goes on.

Wiring and plumbing are installed to high standards. However - and I'm happy to be corrected - Swift's Aussie team might like to consider additional sealing because the standard rubber gaiters may be overwhelmed by Aussie dust. Finally, the awning blocks access to the rear boot and prevents opening of both living-side windows. That's dumb but understandable - the Aussie-fitted awning is installed on a caravan designed without one.

Inside story

But does all this (mostly) good technology mean the Swift is all mouth and no trousers? Absolutely not. Our comprehensive evaluation convinced us the Swift blends substance with style.

Stepping inside the Charisma offers an immediate 'feel-good' buzz with vibrant trims and brushed alloy-look handles. The whole living area of the 'van is open and airy thanks to more window than wall and a large skylight.

Our Pommy mates always try to make the most of the dreary sunlight they get for three months of the year, but that 'big window' philosophy is great for us Down Under, too. Unlike most Aussie rigs, there's no gravel screen over the front window but the 10mm perspex looks almost thick enough to protect an Underbelly character (with apologies to our Victorian readers who, nudge nudge, don't know what we're talking about).

Each of the nine windows has pull-down fly screens and vinyl privacy screens behind the curtains that run in engineered curtain tracks rather than on lengths of fishing line.

The four-seat front lounge/dining area has a folding/sliding table that's a perfect size for two;

a fold-up table (for indoors seating for four, and outdoors use) is stored in the cupboard. Good thinking. Do a bit of fiddling, and the front lounge becomes a double bed.

Cooking is with a three-plus-one gas/electric (with grill and oven) and a not-too-high-mounted microwave. The fridge is a Thetford. Making life easy is a cutlery drawer and plenty of storage in seven deep overhead cupboards that use all available space, but without making the 'van feel claustrophobic. Your cups and dishes are securely carried in purpose-built racks. Brilliant.

Spend time in the Swift and you discover that there are nice little touches everywhere: the power points are 'kiddy safe'; there are drawers under the fold-out dining table; there's a fixed-in-place doormat; and, the door has a kitchen tidy swinging from it. Oh, and there's no step-down floor like most vans meaning there's effectively more floor space, less chance of a stumble and no rattly step.

On the other hand, the base of the door has a tall lip that might trip you up after a couple of wines and makes it impossible to 'sweep out' the van when you want to.

Even the indoor lighting rates a mention. There are strong room lights in the ceiling, feature lights adjacent to the overhead cupboards in the front quarter corners and an effective fluoro over the sink and stove area...plus reading lights.

Las Vegas? No. There's just the right amount of light where it's needed with no dark patches and no glare. About the only criticism is that with each light individually switched, you can't step inside at night and instantly light the room with one switch.

The bed is in a rear corner, which is space-efficient but not being an 'island' design means one person may have to crawl over the other.

It has a shaved corner, too, but that really isn't much of an issue.

The shower/toilet unit is tucked into the other corner, with the sink/vanity outside it. Wardrobe space is generous - in fact, huge - just outside the privacy screen. There are four more overhead cupboards in the bedroom, too. We didn't try it, but the central heating and air-con is standard.

In the end

In all, the Swift displays intelligence in its layout and quality in its construction, so I reckon the brand has a bright future Down Under. For the Aussie caravan buyer, that's all good.

Australian Caravan & RV magazine, Winter 2008.