Swift’s Challenger range was considerably slimmed down to 10 standard and four Grande models this season.

But while it may be a smaller range, the models that have survived the cull, such as the 480 and the Challenger 390, have benefited from a range of new features. These include Truma CombiNeo heating, blackout blinds on the windows and pull-out wire baskets in the kitchen.

So how does this pan-out on the Swift Challenger 480, the longer of the pair of two-berths still in the range? I went to Code 11 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, to find out and see whether it should be considered one of the best two berth caravans.

Pitch and set-up

As a mid-market range, Challenger already had a good level of spec even before this season’s changes. You get ATC, an AKS 3004 stabiliser and a spare wheel. The hook-up connection and the cassette loo access are both hidden away on the offside.

You also get an external mains socket and a BBQ point on the nearside, both of which are handy for an awning. The external locker could be used to store easy-to-access outdoor furniture.

Lounge in the Swift Challenger 480

A comfortable lounge can be an important feature in the best caravans, and in the Challenger 480, there is room in the lounge for at least four people to relax, possibly even six. You get four spotlights, too, with USB ports in them, and there is a wireless charging pad with more USB and USB-C ports in the corner, and a mains socket.

A big sunroof lets in plenty of daylight. At night, in addition to the spotlights, you get ambient light behind the lockers and two LEDs in the housing for this sunroof. There are also speakers, linked to the radio.

The lounge in the Challenger 480
There’s room on the comfortable seating for up to six people to relax

The top of the sideboard unit between the lounge and the door is plenty big enough for the best caravan TV to go, and the cables for it can be neatly tucked away through the hole down to where the sockets are.

The foldaway table is plenty big enough for eating off, but it’s stored in a dedicated cabinet by the door. This does create a useful ledge to leave keys on, but it’s narrow, so getting the table out is a bit of a chore, especially because the washroom door handle gets in the way.

Kitchen in the Swift Challenger 480

In the kitchen a curved shelf with sockets and a cable hole – something that’s a bit of a Swift trademark – sits conveniently above a large and well-lit workspace.

There is an extension you can pull out if you want to, and it wouldn’t be butting into the front lounge if you did, because it’s so large.

The Challenger's kitchen with the worktop extension in place
You get a four burner dual-fuel hob and oven

The slimline caravan fridge in the corner isn’t two-way opening, but in this position there is no real reason why it needs to be.

Washroom in the Swift Challenger 480

The end washroom comes equipped with a large rectangular basin in front of a huge lit mirror.

The washroom in the Challenger
Washroom is compact but well laid out, with a decent-size mirror above the basin

The shower cubicle is big (albeit with only one drainage hole) with hooks and a towel ring right outside it – there’s plenty of room to move around.

Beds in the Swift Challenger 480

The nearside settee is 10cm longer than the offside. That isn’t really enough of a difference to make a ledge where an early riser can sit while their partner stays in bed, and having that difference makes putting the double bed together with the slats just that little bit more complicated because you have to remember to put the right cushion back in the right place.

The bed made up from the sofas
The double bed is made up from the sofas – it’s a perfectly comfortable set-up

Still, it’s worth it in the end because it is a comfy double. If neither of you is much over 6ft tall, you can always use the wide settees as extra-comfy single beds instead.

Storage in the Swift Challenger 480

So, what about when it comes to loading the caravan? Both areas under the settees have internal access flaps, which is good because you’ll need to remove the cushions if you want to lift the slats.

The offside area is partly taken up with the electrics, but is otherwise clear. The nearside has a bit of ducting that might get in the way.

In addition there are two overhead lockers and one corner locker each side.

The sideboard and overhead cupboard in the tourer
Sideboard storage is good, with a shelved cupboard and a locker above it

The sideboard consists of one large shelved double cupboard, with another overhead locker above and some open shelving in between.

Storage in the kitchen proper includes a shallow drawer immediately under the sink and below this a double cupboard that includes the new pull-out baskets. They make use of an area that is often quite redundant in other caravans.

The lockers in the kitchen
In the kitchen there’s a small but useful eye-level locker next to the microwave

A shallow locker under the oven and a slightly deeper one under the fridge completes the base unit. Up above you get one locker next to the microwave.

Washroom storage includes a cupboard under the sink, and a large double cupboard behind the toilet.

Alternatives to consider

Take a look at the Adria Action 391LH, a compact two-berth caravan which has plenty of workspace in the kitchen and versatile settees.

Or how about the Barefoot Bothy? It’s an eye-catching tourer which can be towed with a lightweight car and provides plenty of style.

Technical specification

  • Price: £27,595
  • Berths: 2
  • MiRO: 1160kg
  • Payload: 121kg
  • MTPLM: 1281kg
  • Interior length: 4.34m
  • Shipping length: 6.05m
  • Overall width: 2.25m
  • Seen at: code11ltd.com
  • Contact: swiftgroup.com

Spec list

  • Al-Ko galvanised steel chassis
  • AKS3004 stabiliser
  • ATC
  • 15-inch half diamond cut alloy wheels
  • Steel spare wheel
  • Truma CombiNeo heating
  • 120W solar panel
  • Status 570 directional aerial with booster
  • External mains socket and BBQ point
  • Four-burner dual-fuel hob
  • Separate oven and grill
  • Flatbed microwave
  • 142-litre Thetford fridge
  • EcoCamel Jetstorm shower head
  • Beds: Front double: 1.98 x 1.36m
  • Nearside single: 1.90 x 0.7m
  • Offside single: 1.80 x 0.7m

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