2013 new models: Sprite - Practical Caravan

Price range: £12,485-£15,260

Swift Group is the UK’s largest caravan manufacturer and claims a little more than 40% of Britain’s tourer market. It’s been manufacturing vans since 1965 and today the company builds all its tourers at its base in Cottingham in East Yorkshire. It sells them under the Swift, Sterling and Sprite brand names.

What’s changed for 2013

Swift Group has changed the way it markets its caravans across its three brands for the 2013 season. There’s now a greater emphasis on the Swift Group pedigree of the Sterling and Sprite brands, with logos redesigned to incorporate the Swift bird icon and a ‘Made by Swift’ tag.

This branding is visible on the tourers themselves: for example, for the 2013 season the Swift name is prominent on the front and rear panels of Sprite caravans.

Swift continues with its factory-backed 10-year warranty for all the caravans it builds, and for the new season introduces a Tracker Retrieve caravan recovery system.

The entry-level Sprite, arguably the most famous UK caravan brand, remains focused on low weights and affordability. The stripped-down Sprite Lite, which was only launched early this year, has been discontinued. Also, the Musketeer EB has been deleted from the main Sprite line-up, which now comprises eight models, including the addition of the new fixed-bed Major 4 FB.

Inside, the old space heater has disappeared, replaced by the dual-fuel Truma combi space and water heater. All models also get the new 113-litre Thetford fridge.

A long list of optional kit continues to be available for those who find the Sprite too basic. A number of the most desirable options will continue to bundled into the affordable Diamond Pack, including an Al-Ko stabiliser and the Al-Ko Secure wheel lock.

The new Major 4 FB features parallel seating up front, a fixed bed on the nearside and a full-width end washroom.

Competitors to Sprite in the entry level sector include Adria Altea, Bailey Orion, Elddis Xplore and Venus.

2013 Sprite range

Alpine 2

Two berths. End washroom, offside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £12,485. MTPLM: 1164kg

Alpine 4

Four berths. Nearside corner washroom, offside corner fixed bed, offside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £12,640. MTPLM: 1222kg

Musketeer TD

Five berths. Nearside corner dinette/bunks, offside corner washroom, offside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £13,050. MTPLM: 1264kg

Major 4

Four berths. End washroom, nearside rear dinette/bunks, offside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £13,670. MTPLM: 1327kg

Major 4 FB

Four berths. End washroom, nearside rear fixed bed, offside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £13,670. MTPLM: 1327kg

Major 6

Six berths. Nearside corner fixed bunks, offside corner washroom, offside midships dinette/bunks, nearside midships kitchen floor plan. Price £14,095. MTPLM: 1437kg

Quattro FB (twin axle)

Six berths. Nearside midships kitchen, nearside rear corner fixed bed, offside corner washroom, offside midships dinette/bunks floor plan. Price £15,260. MTPLM: 1571kg