A four berth caravan can be a great choice for those of you who want a family van or are touring as a couple and want a bit of extra space but may have occasional guests stay over. Are you on the hunt for one? The Practical Caravan Awards 2024 are here to help. Our team of experts have used our decades of collective experience to judge the best 4 berth caravan on the market, as well as revealing our shortlisted choices.
We’ve taken a look at the latest releases from the best caravan manufacturers, including Swift, Bailey and more, to pick out the models we consider to be the pick of the bunch. You can also find the models we’ve selected as the best 4 berth caravans from recent years, including the vans that were shortlisted last year, with brands such as Adria, Coachman and more all appearing.
This year’s winner is the Swift Challenger Exclusive 580 – we really like the modern exterior and excellent spec the tourer comes with. It also comes with a transverse fixed bed, end-washroom arrangement, one of the more popular caravan layouts.
The winner of the best 4 berth caravan is:
Swift Challenger Exclusive 580
- Price: £33,795
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1631kg
- MiRO: 1456kg
- Payload: 157kg
- Shipping length: 7.63m
- Overall width: 2.28m
Reason to buy:
- Great spec, modern exterior
Reason to avoid:
- No window in end washroom
This year’s winner of the best four berth caravan category provides a stylish modern exterior, plenty of storage and the popular transverse fixed bed, end-washroom layout. Combine that with its great spec that includes LED road lights, a 100W solar panel, Alde heating, 4G Wi-Fi and the latest Thetford dual-fuel hob and oven, and it’s been a winning combination.
While we’d like to have seen a window in the end washroom, it still proved popular with our judges – we loved how spacious the area felt, something we always look out for in the best caravans.
A large sunroof and Heki roof vent ensure the lounge is well-lit, with plenty of lighting provided for evenings too. This creates the ideal setting for the four of you to stretch out on those comfortable settees – these are actually reminiscent of those seen in the Conqueror, echoes of which are seen throughout.
Comfort extends to the rear of the tourer too, where the transverse island bed comes with Swift’s exclusive Duvalay mattress.
Full review: Swift Challenger Exclusive 580
Also on the shortlist for the best 4 berth caravan are:
Bailey Pegasus Grande GT75 Portofino
- Price: £28,899
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1574kg
- MiRO: 1419kg
- Payload: 155kg
- Shipping length: 7.38m
- Width: 2.45m
Reason to buy:
- Stylishly updated
Reason to avoid:
- You should be sure you’re happy to tow an eight-foot-wide caravan
There’s a lot to like about this island bed caravan from Bailey, the single-axle cousin of the Bailey Pegasus Grande GT75 Messina that we shortlisted for the best family caravan category.
We think the Media Station, which offers both a portable SONOS speaker and wireless charging capabilities, is a great touch, as is the inclusion of a 100-watt solar panel.
Then there’s the aforementioned comfortable fixed king-size island bed at the rear of the van, which comes with a bedside table and wardrobe on both sides. The other two berths can be made up from the settees in the front lounge, which also includes a front chest with a small slide out table.
Step into the washroom and you’ll find the whole area can be partitioned off, and we like the impact provided by the new Belfast style sink and mixer tap.
Combine this with the smart exterior – complete with new graphics – and it’s easy to see how the Portofino made it onto our shortlist.
La Mancelle Liberty 440 PC
- Price: £38,990
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1800kg
- MIRO: 1258kg
- Payload: 433kg
- Shipping length: 6.38m
- Width: 2.25m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent specification, a good payload and well-built
Reason to avoid:
- The distinctive looks might not be to everyone’s taste
The La Mancelle Liberty 440 PC – part of a two-model range brought to the UK by Marquis Leisure – is a four berth tourer that will not only turn heads on site but also on the road, thanks to its distinctive front end. Bold markings and a curved 1930s-style rear make this retro-looking tourer really stand out.
If you’re looking for a side fixed-bed layout in a head-turning tourer, the 440 PC is definitely one to take a closer look at. The large circular lounge offers plenty of space and cosy seating, while the side kitchen comes with a three-burner gas hob, as well as a grill and oven – there’s also good storage, always handy when you’re looking to store kitchenware like your caravan crockery.
One thing our testers really appreciate in the Liberty is the light and airy interior, as well as the excellent LED illumination at night.
There’s a good payload, and great storage is offered to help you make the most of it. There’s a central wardrobe and excellent overhead locker storage in the rear bedroom, too, ideal for not only bringing along the essentials but also all of those luxury caravan accessories you like to tour with.
Well equipped and beautifully built, the Liberty 440 PC certainly offers a lot of caravan for the price tag.
Bailey Phoenix GT75 440
- Price: £24,499
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1370kg
- MIRO: 1220kg
- Payload: 150kg
- Shipping length: 6.88m
- Width: 2.21m
Reasons to buy:
- A great update and a useful layout that leaves the centre of the van feeling open
Reasons to avoid:
- Not everyone likes a corner bed, especially if they have to get out in the night
The corner bed with end washroom layout has been a popular inclusion in Bailey’s line-up for some time, and it is retained in this, the new wallet-friendly range brought out to celebrate the Bristol company’s 75th birthday. There is plenty of payload to cater for four people on the move in the 440, but with an overall gross weight still just 1370kg, you shouldn’t have to shell out for a new and bigger car to tow it.
The central kitchen means the chef shouldn’t feel left out of proceedings when everyone is sitting up front, while the end washroom is given enough room to be spacious but is also nicely tucked out of the way.
This new range of Phoenix caravans has been given an extra touch of luxury this season with the addition of a SONOS Bluetooth speaker too. So you should be able to bring along your favourite tunes without having to worry about the aerial or the FM reception.
These are the 4 berth caravans we shortlisted last year:
Last year, we picked out the Adria Altea 622DP Dart as the best 4 berth caravan on the market – we thought its spec was excellent for its price, and also really liked the brilliant storage on offer. Here, you can see what we made of it, as well as the other shortlisted 4 berth caravans.
Adria Altea 622DP Dart
- Price: £27,970
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: TBC
- MiRO: TBC
- Payload: TBC
- Shipping length: 8.26m
- Width: 2.30m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent spec for its price, great storage
Reason to avoid:
- Very modern interior may not be to everyone’s liking
The Adria Altea Dart is a four-berth caravan with a fixed island bed caravan layout, ideal for parents with young children.
The central washroom offers a separate shower, while the toilet is opposite. The side kitchen provides an oven and three-burner hob, ideal for keeping a family of four fed.
The caravan boasts great storage, while the front lounge offers a cosy family area with wraparound seating, the front end of which can be made into a large double bed.
The Dart looks better than ever after its new makeover, now coming with a larger front window, along with a smarter profile and graphics. It’s also a relatively lightweight tourer for its size and layout.
Full review: Adria Altea Dart
Swift Sprite Grande Major 4 SB
- Price: £26,895
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1507kg
- MiRO: 1351kg
- Payload: 156kg
- Length: 7.54m
- Width: 2.46m
Reason to buy:
- Spacious family tourer, only one axle
Reason to avoid:
- Only a three-burner hob
As a Sprite Super, the Major 4 SB was always a great prospect for mid-size families with mid-size budgets wanting space in their caravan. With only four beds to make space for, there is obviously more room to move around, so you can have an island bed in the rear, and a large front lounge. And having just the one axle, and therefore coming in with a lower MTPLM, means that you don’t need to go for a particularly heavy and expensive tow car either.
Now Sprite Super has become Sprite Grande, and for 2023 the whole Sprite range has been enhanced further, with new bolder graphics and a graphite front gas locker lid.
Internally, there are new soft furnishings and also a furniture finish in a fashionable light grey grain. This creates a fresh look for an old favourite.
The end washroom in the Major 4 SB has a separate shower cubicle and a modern, practical hand basin with storage beneath. The side kitchen is well equipped.
The four of you will be well catered for storage too, with two wardrobes. It all makes for a superb and spacious tourer for a family of four.
Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora
- Price: £38,499
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1855kg
- MiRO: 1694kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Shipping length: 7.86m
- Width: 2.45m
Reason to buy:
- Loads of space, plenty of storage
Reason to avoid:
- Table can be hard to retrieve from under the bed.
In the wake of the lockdown, the Evora is the only new model Bailey has launched this season. But it’s a useful one, because it brings a popular transverse island bed and end washroom layout into what is the Bristol manufacturer’s most exclusive range – offering top notch spec in eight feet of width, as you would expect from one of the best four berth caravans.
This is obviously good news for families. But adults will also be pleased to know that while the front lounge is nice and big and easily converts into beds your children will not complain about, Bailey has redesigned the rear bedroom in ways that make it feel much more like home for the adults too. You won’t find the usual thin wardrobes hemming in the bed, for example. Instead, you get one large wardrobe in the rear corner with two hanging rails – more than enough space for everyone!
The rear washroom and in particular it shower cubicle should also be big enough even for growing teenagers to get washed and dressed in.
There are nice extra touches in this 4 berth caravan too, like the wine rack by the oven and the wireless charging pad by the door – it’s additions like this that helped it to win the best caravan over £30,000 category.
You can get more inspiration from the manufacturer by taking a look at our Bailey caravans round-up.
Full review: Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora
Coachman Acadia 545
- Price: £30,850
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1585kg
- Payload: 155kg
- MiRO: 1430kg
- Length: 7.39m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Comfy rear washroom, good payload for a single axle
Reason to avoid:
- Loo position means cassette access would come within any awning
The smallest, lightest model in Coachman’s cheapest range has been redesigned for the 2023 season, primarily in the washroom. The once fashionable layout of having a washbasin in front of a central pillar has been scrapped in favour of a new plan where the loo and washbasin are on the nearside, and the large shower cabinet is on the offside, with a space for getting dressed in between that is completely partitioned off.
Parents who, while they love having family holidays, still want somewhere where they can retreat to might value this arrangement as that central washroom does create something of a barrier between you and the rest of the caravan.
But the kids, or whoever is in the front lounge, should not feel short changed. The side kitchen has plenty of space to create a large meal too.
Full review: Coachman Acadia 545
- Are you looking for a more compact tourer instead? Then our best small caravan round-up is worth a look.
We also recommend the following 4 berth caravans from recent years
These are some of the best 4 berth caravans from recent years, as picked by our team of experts.
Elddis Osprey 550 Special Edition (2020)
- Price: £21,899
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1259kg
- MTPLM: 1412kg
- Payload: 153kg
- Length: 7.39m
- Width: 2.26m
If you’re looking for a luxury 4 berth caravan, this should definitely be on your shortlist. It’s a dealer special from Raymond James, based in Warwickshire, based on the popular Elddis Avanté 550, which features a longitudinal island bed and a cleverly designed en-suite washroom.
It includes a lot of enhancements, including a Stargazer rooflight, an external barbecue point and carpeting, to name but a few. The kit level in this van is really impressive.
This caravan is ideal for couples that may have occasional guests looking for a caravan with more space and luxury touches, and it looks good, too. It’s not perfect, though – kitchen storage may be tight for a family of four on tour, and if you’re using the lounge sofas as singles, they come up a little short.
Check our comprehensive review of the Elddis Osprey 550 Special Edition to find out more of this caravan’s many attributes.
Bailey Unicorn Black Edition Vigo (2020)
- Price: £24,999
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1344kg
- MTPLM: 1499kg
- Payload: 155kg
- Length: 7.36m
- Width: 2.28m
Bailey has refreshed their luxury Unicorn range this season, making it more stylish and luxurious than ever. This particular model is great for a couple as well as a larger group, and the upgrades have made it sportier, with a lot of the major changes happening on the outside.
This model boasts a transverse island bed and a rear washroom – a popular layout for couples. It’s not quite top of the range, but it certainly has some high-end touches, and the large kitchen is particularly appealing.
One slight downside is that the front double is made up with pull-out slats, but if you’re only using it occasionally, this shouldn’t be a deal breaker.
Find out if this caravan could be suitable for you in our full review of the Bailey Unicorn Black Edition Vigo.
Coachman Laser Xcel 850 (2019)
- Price: £35,400
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1767kg
- MTPLM: 1927kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Length: 7.9m
- Width: 2.44m
The Coachman Laser Xcel 850 boasts our Best Luxury Tourer award from our 2019 Tourer of the Year Awards.
This model joins the 8ft-wide club on a twin-axle, and makes great use of the extra space with a spacious bedroom and a well-planned washroom. The front lounge has parallel settees and plenty of daylight from the windows, rooflight and sunroof, making it very pleasant for lounging and a spacious make-up double.
There’s an L-shaped kitchen unit, and an impressive central washroom that boasts plenty of storage space, a window, and a circular shower with a useful clothes hook.
It’s not the lightest 4 berth caravan you’ll find, but it is very well kitted out.
Read our review: Coachman Laser Xcel 850
Sprite Super Quattro EB (2020)
- Price: £22,400
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1500kg
- MTPLM: 1705kg
- Payload: 205kg
- Length: 7.98m
- Width: 2.46m
This new addition to Sprite’s entry-level range is a great option for families, with a family-friendly layout in an 8ft-wide tourer. We’d recommend adding the Diamond Pack, though, to make sure you’ve got all the stabilising assistance you can get, as it’s fairly hefty.
The extra space gives the opportunity to include a comfortable fixed bed, although you may miss having a second dinette where the kids could hang out.
Design-wise, this caravan has a lot going for it, including a bright and family-friendly lounge, a surprisingly well-equipped kitchen for an entry-level caravan, and a sliding partition door to create separate sleeping spaces.
Read more about the Sprite Super Quattro EB in our full review to find out if it could be your ideal family van.
Adria Altea Dart 622DP (2020)
- Price: £20,195
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1539kg
- MTPLM: 1500kg
- Payload: 157kg
- Length: 8.29m
- Width: 2.29m
This new model in Adria’s entry-level Altea range is a worthy addition to the line-up, with revamped interiors and an improved kit-level.
The layout features a lounge with wrap-around seating that can be made up into a comfortable double, a kitchen with excellent storage and an improved kit level, a mid-ships split washroom including a one-piece sealed shower unit, and a fixed island bed in the rear bedroom.
The island bed offers plenty of storage, and overall, this caravan has plenty of space for a family of four going on tour, although we do expect it to be more suitable for couples looking for a bit of extra space.
To find out why, read our full review of the Adria Altea Dart 622DP.
Swift Challenger X 880 (2020)
- Price: £28,765
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1481kg
- MTPLM: 1642kg
- Payload: 161kg
- Length: 7.54m
- Width: 2.45m
Adding to the 8ft-wide offering from Swift, the Challenger X line-up features this model that boasts a transverse fixed bed. It also happens to be one of the best-looking caravans on the market, and is roomy enough for a family of four.
The amount of storage and well-planned kitchen make this a great option, however ATC is not included as standard. You’ll also want to keep an eye on the payload. There’s a Lux Pack that adds some great features, though.
There’s no option of single beds in the front lounge, as the sofas are a little short, but it does make up into a huge double bed. The stand-out feature is that all-important fixed transverse bed; the Duvalay foam mattress makes it very comfortable.
Find out more about the Swift Challenger X 880 in our independent review.
Bailey Alicanto Grande Sintra (2020)
- Price: £28,499
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1441kg
- MTPLM: 1624kg
- Payload: 155kg
- Length: 7.38m
- Width: 2.45m
If you’re looking for ‘wow’ factor, this could be the caravan of your dreams.
It benefits from being one of three new 8ft-wide caravans in Bailey’s Alicanto range, with a transverse island bed and a spacious end washroom that make it perfect for families of four, or couples that want some extra space and options for overnight visitors.
This model has a comfortable lounge, a functional kitchen and a very spacious washroom.
Bear in mind the tow car limitations, and this could be the perfect seasonal or touring caravan for many couples and families.
Read about the details of the Bailey Alicanto Grande Sintra in our full review of the 2020 model.
Knaus Sport Silver 400LK (2019)
- Price: £16,499
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 900kg
- MTPLM: 1100kg
- Payload: 200kg
- Length: 5.99m
- Width: 2.32m
Those looking for an ultra lightweight family caravan would be foolish to overlook the Knaus Sport Silver 400LK. It’s surprising how much versatility can be fitted into a sub-6m caravan.
The weights of this caravan certainly offer it up to a larger market, but it’s the build quality and reasonable price that really sell it.
It’s a good value van with two dinettes, a comfortable lounge, a compact side kitchen and a well-finished washroom as well as the comfortable rear single bed that has a fold-down bunk above it and the make-up double in the front lounge.
There are more details in our full review of the Knaus Sport Silver 400LK which, although it was slightly lower in our star-rating, still makes a great starter caravan for families with a limited budget.
Lunar Venus 550/4 (2019)
- Price: £17,899
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1166kg
- MTPLM: 1320kg
- Payload: 154kg
- Length: 7.2m
- Width: 2.21m
This end-washroom model from Lunar benefits from a significantly upgraded spec, helping it to be selected as our Best Van for Small Families in last years’ Tourer of the Year Awards.
It’s a great van for a small family with a limited budget, with a surprisingly well-equipped kitchen. It even has some stylish upgrades, such as the Skyview rooflight and up-to-date furnishings.
Find out more about this family-friendly caravan in our full review of the Venus 550/4.
Coachman Acadia 675 (2020)
- Price: £25,400
- Berths: 4
- MiRO: 1555kg
- MTPLM: 1715kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Length: 7.9m
- Width: 2.26m
This caravan is new in Coachman’s 2020 range, and it’s nice to see them bringing this popular layout into a lower price bracket. This twin-axle would make an ideal seasonal tourer, with lots of space and a large kitchen to boot.
With a comfortable transverse bed at the rear, and an easy to set up front double, accommodating a family of four shouldn’t be a problem.
Read our full review of the Coachman Acadia 675 to find out more.
How we pick the best 4 berth caravan
Wen we compile our shortlist, we were looking at factors including the layout, the ease of putting the extra beds together, the value for money it offers and more.
We’re well placed to be assessing this – our expert team have decades of touring experience between us, helping us to develop a keen sense of what to look out for when picking the best 4 berth caravan.
We frequently test the latest tourers on the market, with over 400 models included in our caravan reviews section. Each review is honest, as we draw attention to the pros and the cons of each model – you can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.
As well as this, we run the Owner Satisfaction Awards, where our readers offer an insight into their buying experience.
Combining this allows us to start drawing up our initial shortlist of the tourers we think could be worth including, before whittling it down to create a final list. Below, you’ll be able to see the vans we included on our shortlist for the best 4 berth caravan, as well as the reasons why we included them.
Those looking for a couples’ van might like to check out our 10 best 2 berth caravans. Alternatively, if you’re constricted by budget, you may like to consult our list of the best caravans under £20,000. If you’re budget can stretch a bit further, we’ve also compiled a list of the best caravans over £30,000.
Perhaps you’d rather have a hand with getting your caravan looking spotless? If so, be sure to take a look at our guide to the best caravan cleaners.
Or what about a motorhome? Check out some of these options Best 2 berth motorhomes, Best 4 berth motorhomes, Best 6 berth motorhomes and more
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