Verdict
The suite of improvements to the Swift Eccles 590 for 2018 attract a price increase of just under 8%.
This seems reasonable at first glance, but bear in mind that the caravan as reviewed here was supplied with the Lux pack and Al-Ko ATC upgrades, cost options that many buyers will specify.
But if this extra outlay isn’t an issue, then anyone looking for a capable large family tourer should put the sharp-looking Eccles 590 near the top of their shopping list.
Pros
You get showroom looks in abundance
Alde heating is now standard
It’s a very sensible floorplan
The kitchen is well-equipped and ergonomically pleasing
Cons
The inclusion of Al-Ko’s ATC as standard would have made this a four-star van
Cara-fans will know that the Swift Challenger and Sterling Eccles share the same floorplans and similar spec lists, but sport different design vibes.
It’s a great way for a producer to double its appeal in the marketplace – there’s a look and feel for those who value traditional styling cues, plus something that’s more racy.
For 2018, though, Eccles has been ‘set free’ from Sterling, becoming a standalone Swift range as part of the mother company’s marketing reboot.
As well as the change in nomenclature, there are several noteworthy improvements for the new season – led by Alde heating now coming as standard on Eccles caravans, but remaining an option in Challengers.
Here, we take a look at the six-berth 590, a 7.5m-long single-axle.
And to see other Swift caravans for sale, click here.
A nearside rear corner dinette provides a discrete den for younger family members
Pitching & Setting-up
All Swift Eccles caravans ride on Al-Ko chassis.
The corner steadies are straightforward to reach and services connections are made on the offside – the Lux Pack fitted to our test van as a cost option brought nearside external gas and mains points.
The gas locker is easy to access via a single handle on the lid, and there’s plenty of room inside.
Meanwhile, inside the van, the Swift Command feature set is enhanced for the 2018 season.
Living
There are no décor changes for 2018, so the ‘Guetta’ soft furnishings are continued.
It comprises biscuit-coloured textured seating that will hide family wear’n’tear, plus retro chic curtain fabrics.
Brown and white scatter cushions round off the look – the latter are a perfect match for the white worktops and overhead locker facings.
With a panoramic front sunroof and five windows, plenty of natural light floods the Swift Eccles 590’s lounge, while the over-locker ambient lighting and spotlights are now boosted by side window pelmet lighting.
For meals and snacks, just retrieve the folding leaf table from the offside wardrobe – add the slide-out top from the centre chest to make this a space to serve six people. This isn’t the only social area in the 590, though.
A nearside rear corner dinette also provides a discrete den for younger family members: it will seat four, has a pair of windows and a cupboard with connections for hooking up the electronic nanny.
Kitchen
The 2018 Swift Eccles 590’s nearside kitchen will certainly be able to cope with family feeding times.
Cooks can call on dual-fuel hobs and a separate oven and grill, to the left of a circular sink.
For speedier catering solutions, a microwave oven is sited high up in the middle of the tall overhead lockers.
A lone 230V socket – more than one would be better – is to the right of the kitchen unit, above a 110-litre dual-fuel fridge with a freezer compartment.
Food preparation space is improved by a tip-up flap to the right of the sink. With this, plus a lowered cooker lid and the sink infill in situ, there’ll be enough space to prep a Sunday roast.
Washroom
An interior length of almost six metres means not having to squish things in too much.
And one of the beneficiaries of this is the offside washroom, which is sensibly located between the caravan’s two sleeping areas.
Access is via a door with a domestic-style handle. It opens to reveal a vanity unit with a half-length mirror, and an oval sink with a mixer tap.
To its right is a swivelling cassette toilet, next to an Alde central heating radiator. On the left is a separate shower compartment with bi-fold doors.
The shower tray has a step built around the wheel arch, and is fitted with a water-efficient Ecocamel showerhead.
Beds
Parental sleeping arrangements are taken care of by a make-up bed in the front lounge that measures 6ft 8in by 5ft 9in.
For the offspring, a pair of 1.81m x 0.57m fixed longitudinal bunks fill the space between the washroom and the rear wall of the caravan.
A folding partition slides across from nearside to offside to provide privacy from the sleepers in the front lounge.
In addition, the nearside corner dinette converts into another pair of bunks, using a hinged pull-out frame.
These are the shortest beds (1.78m x 0.62m for the lower, 1.69m x 0.59m for the upper bunk), and are formed from cushion jigsaws, so toppers may be required to smooth out any bumps.
Storage
The Swift Eccles 590’s user payload has actually increased slightly for 2018, to 181kg.
And this allocation can be distributed right across the van: choose from four overhead lockers in both lounges, and two in the kitchen.
Touring kit can be stowed in both front lounge seat boxes, with further space for items beneath the fixed bunks at the rear, and there’s a large cupboard between the cooker and the fridge.
A half-length wardrobe, with cupboard space underneath, is fitted behind the front lounge on the offside, while there are two cupboards in the washroom for hiding lotions, potions and so on.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 6 |
| MiRO | 1439 kg |
| Payload | 181 kg |
| MTPLM | 1620 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.54 m |
| Width | 2.23 m |
