The Swift Elegance Grande 860, with its 8ft width providing a luxuriously spacious interior, has an L-shaped lounge, a central kitchen, a split washroom and shower, and a rear bedroom with a generous island bed.

Of all Swift’s smart-looking vans, the Elegance has to be one of the brand’s most stylish offerings. Those good looks aren’t just on the outside, either: the interiors are contemporary and very upmarket.

Following the success of the 2023 range, Swift, who you can find out more about in our guide to the different makes of caravan, has widened the appeal of the Elegance by adding three more caravan layouts, which is where the Elegance Grande 860 comes in.

Pitch and set-up

The 860, a substantial twin-axle caravan, looks even smarter than its shorter siblings. The GRP front panel is aerodynamic and houses the large gas locker. The sides and rear panel are GRP and at the back, the neat styling includes LED lights and Thule mounting brackets.

On the outside, you get two nearside LED awning lights, mains/barbecue points, a shower fitting, a 100W solar panel, alloys, a Status TV aerial, a TV point and a Truma mains waterline for tap connection. AKS hitch and ATC are all part of the spec.

In the L-shaped lounge, there’s no window on the nearside, allowing for provision of a caravan TV on that wall. Using the extra width, Swift has made sure that the sunroof is as large as possible, to bring in maximum daylight.

Wood-free construction means that the Elegance should be durable. Heavy-duty corner steadies have been fitted, and E&P hydraulic auto-levelling is a cost option.

Lounge in the Swift Elegance Grande 860

Step into the comfortable L-shaped lounge and you’ll find a sociable area to relax in. The large sunroof brings in plenty of light, augmented by a midi-Heki roof vent.

The upholstery, finished in Ultraleather, adds to the air of opulence here. Overhead lockers in white look cool and classy, while the side cabinet has TV mountings above.

Lounge of Elegance Grande 860
Sumptuous Ultraleather upholstery adorns the smart L-shaped lounge while the huge sunroof takes advantage of the caravan’s 8ft width

Ample storage space is provided below the settees, which you can access without having to move the base cushions.

Mains sockets are thoughtfully located, and speakers for the radio are integrated into the ceiling. The LED lighting here is first-class, with corner reading lights and adjustable spotlights.

Kitchen in the Swift Elegance Grande 860

The L-shaped kitchen on the offside works well, with extendable worktop, a built-in microwave, a dual-fuel hob, a full oven and a large stainless-steel sink.

LEDs provide excellent illumination at night, and there’s a built-in extractor fan. Storage is generous in solidly built drawers and cupboards, with another cupboard above the fridge/freezer opposite.

Kitchen
Thoughtfully planned kitchen is equipped with microwave, dual-fuel hob and full oven

The drinks cabinet by the entrance door is another welcome sight in a luxury caravan. The small cupboard below this offers yet more worktop should you need it.

Beds in the Swift Elegance Grande 860

The lounge seating converts into a 194 x 122cm double if required, or you can use the settee as a single. The 191 x 143cm island bed at the rear has the exclusive Duvalay mattress.

Rear island bed
Island bed at the rear benefits from the supremely comfortable Duvalay mattress

Washroom in the Swift Elegance Grande 860

The washroom straddles the centre of the Elegance, with the Thetford cassette toilet, the handbasin, a large mirror and cupboards all on the offside. There’s a radiator fitted here, too. Lacking a window, daylight and ventilation come via an extractor fan/roof vent. The door folds back to shut off the main living area as needed. Night-time illumination is taken care of by LEDs.

Washroom
Washroom provides Thetford cassette toilet, large handbasin, a mirror and a smart grey radiator

The relatively basic shower cubicle opposite has no window, and rather surprisingly, no roof vent, either.

Storage in the Swift Elegance Grande 860

Couples on tour will find plenty of storage, as you’d expect in a tourer of this size. The lounge has that large cabinet below the TV mounting and deep overhead lockers along both sides. There is one cupboard by the door and another over the fridge, while the kitchen has an overhead locker, cupboards and drawers. The washroom provides a wall cupboard and space underneath the handbasin, although the shower cubicle only offers a moulded wall unit for toiletries.

Interior
Upmarket design touches include smart drinks cabinet by the door

In the rear bedroom, the double bed base has ample storage and you also get twin wardrobes, a cabinet either side of the bed and overhead lockers. There is additional storage capacity in the front gas locker, too.

Alternatives to consider

Other options to consider include the Coachman Laser Xcel 850, our pick for the best luxury caravan category on the market at the Practical Caravan Awards 2024 – it’s a van that adds plenty of space and comfort to a touring experience.

Another new season model from Swift is the Challenger Exclusive 580, a van that not only looks good but also adds plenty of comfort to the caravanning. You could also consider the Swift Sprite Grande Quattro EB – it’s a more entry-level option that is impressively comfortable and spacious.

Technical spec of the Swift Elegance Grande 860

  • Price: £46,795
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 1876kg
  • Payload: 201kg
  • MTPLM: 2077kg
  • Interior length: 6.36m
  • Shipping length: 7.99m
  • Overall width: 2.45m

Spec includes

  • Alde heating
  • Thetford oven
  • Dometic fridge/freezer
  • Alarm
  • Alloys
  • Al-Ko receiver
  • BBQ point
  • Exterior mains socket
  • Solar panel
  • Heavy-duty steadies
  • ATC
  • 4G Wi-Fi
  • Rear double bed: 191 x 143cm
  • Front double bed: 194 x 122cm

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