Verdict
For a family constantly tripping over themselves in the confines of a caravan, surely space is the ultimate luxury?
And the Sprite Super has bags of it, making the Quattro DB roomy enough for a family of six, or palatial for four – with the option of leaving the front made up as a double and enjoying the sociable central space for eating and relaxing.
Not only that, but the 2018 Swift Sprite Super Quattro DB is stylish and sensibly priced, too.
Pros
There’s a marvellous sense of space
Reasonable weights for the spec and payload
We like its modern looks and USB ports
The Swift Command system is standard
Cons
You’ll need to dip into the options list for key kit
Its size and weight make it a challenging tow for beginners
We’re big fans of the latest Sprite revamp – so much so that we made the six-berth, family-friendly Major 6 our Tourer of the Year for 2018.
We reckoned that, a few detail tweaks aside, it would be tough to better, but the Swift Group clearly likes a challenge.
The result is this, the Sprite Super Quattro DB – in essence a longer, wider, twin-axle version of the Major 6.
It’s one of two new ‘Super’ models to follow Elddis’ lead in offering 8ft-wide vans at a more affordable price point.
In fact, we reckon it’s the cheapest eight-footer on the UK market – at least it is before you add the obligatory front panoramic window (£365) and the Diamond Pack (£595), which brings such essentials as a microwave, door flyscreen, alloys and a stereo.
And to see other Swift caravans for sale, click here.
This U-shaped bank of seating is spacious enough for a family to enjoy a sociable breakfast
Pitching & Setting-up
Like its slimmer siblings the new Super is a fine-looking tourer, but there’s no getting away from it: this is a very, very big caravan.
And while that is this new model’s main appeal, it’s also a downside if you’re of a nervous disposition when it comes to towing.
That said, if you’ve a tow car that can cope with the 1711kg MTPLM (2013kg for an 85% match) and can get used to the dimensions – 2.46m wide and a sniff less than 8m from hitch to Thule bike-rack mounts on the rear wall – we’ve generally found large twin-axles such as this to be stable on tow.
The Diamond Pack brings an AKS3004 hitch stabiliser, but you’ll have to fork out another £349 for ATC trailer control.
Most will also want to budget for a motor mover to take the strain out of getting the Swift Sprite Super Quattro DB perfectly sited.
The corner steadies are all easily accessed – the fronts through cutouts in the dent-resistant sill panels – and the services are sensibly placed on the offside.
Up front you’ll find a huge, full-width gas locker, and there’s also an external hatch to access the space beneath the nearside rear bunks, which is where you’ll find the spare wheel.
Living
This is a six-berth caravan and, should you want to test that capacity, you’ll have no problem seating all residents in the vast front lounge.
The sofas are deep, and long enough for three to relax on each side, and you have the choice of setting up a freestanding table here to dine, or adjourning to the central dinette.
We’re delighted to see that the suite of powerpoints on the front centre chest (which is where you’ll find the relevant sockets for a TV) now boasts two USB slots.
The pleasingly modern design theme of the standard Sprite caravans is carried through, with attractive grey tones for the fabrics lifted by white shelves and cupboard doors, plus wood tones to add warmth.
The area is heated by blown air from a Truma Combi 6 boiler, and at night there’s attractive illumination from a combination of (non-directional) spotlights and over-locker ambient lighting.
Kitchen
Let’s start with the negatives in the Swift Sprite Super Quattro DB’s galley.
The 100-litre Dometic fridge is perhaps a little compact for six, the kitchen window is far from panoramic and, if we’re picky, we’d also like to have seen a little more storage space in here.
Otherwise, however, this is one seriously impressive kitchen. The (gas only) hob sits atop a separate oven and grill, there’s a rooflight overhead to evacuate cooking smells, and plenty of worktop space for keen cooks.
A pair of 230V sockets – rotated to avoid cable clash – will help with breakfast prep, and the Diamond Pack brings a well-sited microwave.
There are two small overhead lockers, but if you need more there’s another three over the magnificent dinette.
This U-shaped bank of seating is spacious enough for a family to enjoy a sociable breakfast, without the cook feeling left out, and the sturdy table is not fixed so you won’t feel hemmed-in.
Washroom
Get past the slightly spartan looks – which will presumably be softened by the towels and potions of a family on holiday – and the Sprite Super’s corner bathroom is pretty impressive.
The sink that sits atop the corner cabinet is cutaway to aid access through the entrance door.
Getting past the electric-flush loo to the shower is a bit of a squeeze, but once you do the cubicle itself is roomy, with a one-piece liner, a shelf and a water-saving EcoCamel Orbit showerhead.
There’s no window in here, but there is a rooflight, plus a couple of useful shelves.
Beds
As long as you don’t mind making up the bed each evening, using the new ‘Accuride’ system of pull-out bases with fold-down legs, there’s little to complain about the colossal 7ft 4in x 5ft 11in front double – alternatively, the sofas make decent singles for teens at 5ft 11in each.
There’s another usefully large (6ft 3in x 4ft 5in) guest double in the Swift Sprite Super Quattro DB that can be made up from the centre dinette, with a lined curtain for privacy.
The rear of the van can feel a bit dark, with no rooflight and only small windows for each bunk, but kids are hardly likely to whinge: the bunks themselves are a super size – 6ft x 2ft 4in – and each gets a window, light and curtain.
There’s also a useful seat and swivel table – ideal to catch up on homework, perhaps? – plus a mirror.
Storage
The Swift Sprite Super Quattro DB is a big caravan so, as you might expect, you’re unlikely to run out of places to stash your kit.
There’s an amazing six overhead lockers in the lounge, plus three more over the dinette, and bags of space for bedding and other bulky gear beneath the front sofas – with drop-down access flaps – the dinette seating and the rear bunks.
But perhaps most impressive is the pair of huge wardrobes that flank the central walkway, and it’s good to find them sensibly positioned near to the axle line.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 6 |
| MiRO | 1486 kg |
| Payload | 225 kg |
| MTPLM | 1711 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.98 m |
| Width | 2.46 m |
