We are delighted to announce that the Swift Sprite Major 6 is our 2018 Tourer of the Year!

As revealed at tonight’s ceremony at Hampton Manor in Solihull, this innovative, six-berth caravan beat off tough competition to take the top prize at this year’s awards.

“In the end, the Swift Sprite Major 6, was the runaway winner,” said Practical Caravan‘s Editor Niall Hampton. “It really is a wonderful thing.” And check out our full review.

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Nine category awards were up for grabs, one for best innovation and one for best awning, with the remaining seven class gongs being contested between 21 shortlisted caravans.

Having taken the top prize in the ‘Best tourer for small families’ category earlier in the evening, over the highly commended Bailey Pursuit 570-6 and Elddis Avanté 574, come the end of the evening, this £17,430 tourer had scooped our top prize of the night.

Indeed, with such a palatable price-tag, it’s a winning tourer that will be within the reach of many caravanners.

A winning formula

So, what makes a Tourer of the Year?

“It might be an innovative layout, pioneering construction, dramatic styling or perhaps the ultimate in luxury,” considers Niall. “Sometimes, however, a new van comes along that might not excel in any one particular area, but shows brilliance across the board.

“From front to back, and everything else in between, our Tourer of the Year has been transformed for 2018.

“The fresh, new interiors make this van even more of a pleasant place in which to spend family time, with materials and finishes that are well suited to the rigours of two-generation caravanning.

“This is an already excellent product that has been made better in every area, with a market segment-defying new look inside and out. The layout is nothing new, but that’s because it didn’t need changing.

“In a year when the whole brand has been successfully revamped, it seems fully appropriate that our winner comes from that stable.

“Congratulations to Swift Group for winning this year’s top prize,” he added, “but also to all our other class winners. The 2018-season shortlisted caravans, awnings and innovations were stronger than ever!”

To read our full verdict on our Tourer of the Year 2018, the Swift Sprite Major 6, and to find out who our other category winners are, don’t miss the November 2017 issue of Practical Caravan, on sale Thursday 5 October 2017.