The Practical Caravan judges have returned from their travels around the country. The votes have been cast and now we can reveal which manufacturer has won the year's ultimate caravan accolade. Of course, the real benefit of these awards is not just to the manufacturer - they are to show you the best buys.
Read the full review of these tourers, plus facts and figures, and our verdict, in the Awards issue.

FACTFILE
Price £12,995
MTPLM 1368kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 5 years body
ouples looking for a spacious, comfortable two-berth need look no further than the 2007 Elddis Odyssey 482. It sleeps just two people and costs less than £13,000, yet has the feel of a much bigger and more expensive van. The 482 has been widened to 2.29m for 2007, and this extra space is noticeable from the moment you step inside. Whether you're cooking the evening meal, lounging at the front dinette or getting dressed in the bathroom, those few extra centimetres make a big difference. And while bigger usually means heavier, Elddis has kept the weight sensible. An MTPLM of 1368kg means you can tow the 482 with an average diesel estate car.

RUNNER-UP
Coachman Pastiche 470/2
Last year's winner remains one of our favourites. Build quality is second to none, every door and locker opens with smooth precision, and all the fixtures and fittings are made to last.

Bailey Discovery Mercury
The Mercury demonstrates no-frills touring at its best. The Discovery's MTPLM of just over a tonne means even smaller towcars can pull it, while its pricetag brings it within the reach of those couples who had thought second-hand was their only option.

FACTFILE
Price £11,820
MTPLM 1365kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 6 years body
his category was one of the most hotly contested in this year's awards. Several new contenders emerged to battle the established favourites, but the new Pageant Series 6 triumphed over a talented field.
Truth be told, there wasn't much wrong with the Series 5. The interior was light and airy, the bathroom was well designed and the relatively low weight made the Champagne a manageable prospect for most large family cars. In fact, it was good enough to finish as a runner-up in this class in our 2006 awards.
Since then, improvements have made a great van even better. A flat roof has freed up 6ft 3in of headroom throughout the tourer. While a Swift Group van might have a greater maximum headroom, this wouldn't extend all the way to the front of the van as it does in the Bailey.

RUNNERS-UP
Abbey Vogue 520
The Swift Group was represented in last year's awards by the Challenger 530. This year the new Abbey Vogue 520 offers similar ability at a lower price.

Avondale Dart 545-4
We're sure Avondale has a winner in its line-up with the 2007 Dart range. Prices are down, quality is up, and the 545-4 is one of our favourites. Like the Bailey and the Abbey, the Avondale has gone for a side-dinette, end-washroom layout.

FACTFILE
Price £12,895
MTPLM 1700kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 5 years body
ost family vans put the emphasis on keeping the kids happy. In the Fleetwood Sonata Symphony, mum and dad are just as important as the youngsters. How so? Well, once the bunks have been made up and the kids are asleep there's no need for mum and dad to start fiddling around with slats and cushions so they can finally get a good night's sleep. There's a big, fixed, nearside bed ready and waiting at the rear.
Of course, this bed takes up what would otherwise be usable living space by day, but with such a big van it doesn't really matter.

RUNNERS-UP
Abbey Vogue 540
As with every model in the Abbey Vogue range, the 540 feels more expensive than it is. It's not just about the kit levels although these are pretty decent.

Adria Altea 542 UK
This is a huge van with a tiny price tag. Less than £10,000 gives you five berths, a vast U-shaped dinette, generous bunks and a rear dinette that makes into a single bed.

FACTFILE
Price £13,895
MTPLM 1640kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 6 years body
Fixed bed vans are all about compromise. You gain some comfort and convenience at night, and lose a little living space during the day. But the new Swift Charisma boldly attempts to sidestep this problem and give you the best of both worlds.
Instead of a pokey little wetroom tucked away in the corner of the van, the 620 comes with a full rear washroom. There's a separate shower cubicle with lots of headroom, and ample space for getting changed.
All that room has to come from somewhere, so you'd expect to find a tiny dinette up front.

RUNNERS-UP
Bailey Senator Virginia
If the nearside fixed bed layout was the big news for 2006, then 2007 is the year of the island bed. Several manufacturers have cottoned on to this layout but, to date, Bailey still does it the best.

Elddis Odyssey 544
Since Bailey launched its Senator Indiana, it seems as if everyone has had a crack at the nearside fixed bed layout. Of these contenders only Elddis has improved on this increasingly popular format.

FACTFILE
Price £9575-£10,130
MTPLM 1131kg-1298kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 6 years body
espite fierce competition at home and abroad, last year's winner has hung onto its title: The Bailey Ranger is still the best budget line-up.
If you're wondering why, just take a look at the prices. Even the six-berth 550/6 costs just a shade over £10,000. The cheapest models in many budget ranges cost even more than this.
Low prices count for little if the vans aren't up to scratch, but the Ranger doesn't feel like a budget choice. Items such as a full oven, a 96-litre fridge, a Heki sunroof, a Status TV aerial and removable carpets all come as standard. Build quality is good, and there's the reassurance of Bailey's three-year parts and six-year body warranty should trouble strike.

RUNNERS-UP
Adria Altea
FOR THE first time, UK-spec foreign tourers are eligible to enter our awards. Adria's budget Altea range has already come close to scooping the top prize at its first attempt.

Avondale Dart
If there were a prize for the most improved range of 2007, the Avondale Dart would walk it. Prices and weights are down, but quality is up.

FACTFILE
Price £18,995-£21,495
MTPLM 1460kg-1700kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 5 years body
his is a brand new category for 2007. Here, we were looking for the range of tourers that offers the most luxurious standards possible for those able to afford them. But although these top-of-the-market tourers are aimed at those with accordingly large budgets, value for money hasn't been ignored: our winner and runners-up must all be able to justify their high prices.
The new Fleetwood Heritage range does all of this. Its build quality is first rate, its specification is superb and an Alde central heating system is included as standard, which will make a real difference on cold winter evenings. What's more, design-conscious buyers have a choice of three upholstery colour schemes.

RUNNERS-UP
Coachman Laser
FIf you want a van that feels like it will last forever, look at a Coachman Laser. We'd struggle to name a better constructed range.

Swift Conqueror
Swift's budget vans can look pricey next to the opposition. But the reverse is true at the top of the market – the three-model Conqueror range is great value compared to its rivals.

Price £11,245-£13,895
MTPLM 1295kg-1640kg
Warranty 3 years parts; 6 years body
Many new vans have impressed us over the last 12 months, but none more so than the Abbey Vogues. Replacing the outgoing Aventuras to give Abbey's entry-level a more upmarket feel, the Vogues are the most stylishly modern tourers available at any price. The modern fabrics, clean lines, and pale oak-effect finish bring the range bang up to date.