Cottingham-based Swift is the UK’s largest manufacturer of leisure vehicles, with a portfolio covering both trailer caravans and motorised ones.
The latter includes everything from neat and nifty campervans, such as the Swift Carrera 144, to coachbuilts for the more adventurous, such as the Trekker 540, our pick for the best 4 berth motorhome at our recent Awards. Voyager itself is a relatively recent addition from the Cottingham crew. It is also Swift’s first on Ford Transit underpinnings.
Aimed squarely at ‘families seeking adventure’, all offer at least four travel seats and four sleeping berths, with some variants having a brace more of both. Drivers without Group C1 on their driving licences are increasing in number, prompting Swift’s determination to keep Voyagers under 3500kg MTPLM. This enables them to be driven by anybody with a car licence (Group B), which can be an appealing prospect when you’re looking for the best used motorhome.
All are built on the front-wheel-drive version of Ford’s finest. For the first couple of years, the standard powertrain included the 155bhp version of Ford’s EcoBlue turbocharged diesel engine, linked to an automatic (torque converter) transmission. However, for the 2026 model year, this changes to a 130bhp version coupled to a manual gearbox. A cost option is the latest (last?) version of the two-litre lump, boasting an equine count of 165 and linked to an automatic gearbox.
Voyager debuted in late 2022, with full production on-stream by early 2023. The launch offer consisted of four models numbered as the 500 series, and there were different sizes of motorhome to choose from, with three lengths. All have an electrically operated transverse drop-down double bed just behind the cab.
The 540 was the shortest at 7.01m/23’0”. It has a forward lounge consisting of two inward-facing settees (of unequal length) ahead of a centrally placed kitchen. Across the rear is a full-width comfort station with a large changing area, plus a separate walk-in shower. Next up is the marginally longer Voyager 564, the only model with a European-style permanent rear-corner double bed.
The 574 (7.73m/25’4.5”) sleeps six in three transverse double beds. The downside of the increase in accommodation for the somnolent is that the (now) centrally placed washroom has shrunk in size and relies on an ‘all-in-one’ format – there’s no separate shower.
Range toppers 584 and 594 stretch the tape to 7.85m/25’9”. Both have a forward lounge and a central kitchen, ahead of a washroom, loo, and shower, split either side of the central aisle. It is in the bedroom where the models differ. The 584 (see our review of the 2023 Voyager 584) has twin permanent longitudinal single beds; sibling 594 swaps these for an island double.
Voyager hit the ground running with extremely buoyant sales… the catalyst for extending the offer for the 2024 model year. Voyager 400 series differed from the 500 derivatives in that it had a Luton overcab containing an additional transverse double bed.
Once again, all had at least four sleeping berths and travel seats, with two models offering five of each. These are the 7.54m/24’9” 475 and 485. Both came with a forward lounge including a double Pullman dinette, ahead of a nearside kitchen and an offside all-in-one washroom.
The 475 favours a rear lounge, whereas the 485 opts for twin permanent single beds above a garage. The similarly sized 494 has an island double bed. However, to accommodate this, the Pullman seating shrinks to a half-dinette.
2024 also saw two compact four-berths added to the 500 series. These featured a full-width rear comfort station with a large changing area and a walk-in shower. The Voyager 505 has only two travel seats, the 510 four. The latter employs foldaway rear travel seats that ‘park’ underneath the squabs of the inward-facing lounge settees.
What to look out for in a used Swift Voyager
Base vehicle
Although generally very reliable, there have been some niggling electrical gremlins, resulting in recalls. Make sure these have been completed. Keyboard warriors are worrying potential purchasers of modern Ford-based motorcaravans by continually alluding to ‘wet belt’ failure destroying engines prematurely.
There has been a lot of heat generated, but not much light. Modern Ford Transit TD engines have an OIB which stands for Oil Immersed (timing) Belt. There have been occasional failures (as with ‘dry’ timing belts), but I couldn’t find any evidence of common premature failure when the new official replacement interval had been adhered to (six years or 100,000 miles).
Conversion
Swift’s ‘Smart’ construction (basically a timber-free design using GRP cladding externally and internally) makes for a ‘smart’ purchase. However, it is essential that the required annual inspections have been carried out.
If not, the body-integrity warranty will be void. This is often described as 10 years from purchase date. However, that’s only for the first owner, it’s six years from the same date for a subsequent owner.
Our pick
A 505 for solos/couples looking for ‘coachbuilt comfort’ in a panel van footprint. The 584/585 for families or for anybody wanting more space and a permanent rear bed(s). A 475 can seat up to 11 on site!
What to pay
Voyagers are still relatively new, so if you’re thinking of buying a used motorhome, it’s unsurprising that pre-owned examples of these ‘vans are rare. That said, there are worthwhile bargains out there for those prepared to travel. It’s likely that more will become available this year as early examples reach the three-year ‘churning’ age.
We spotted a 2024 Voyager 574, 155bhp automatic, with just 5500 miles recorded, for sale at Oxford Caravan Centre. Asking price: £59,995. Even without haggling, this represents a saving of over £20,000 on today’s RRP.
Used Swift Voyager essentials
Swift Voyager on Ford Transit chassis-cab
- Built: 2023 onwards in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK
- Low-line and Luton overcab coachbuilts
- Overall length: 6.19m/20’3.75” (505/510) to 7.85m/25’9” (584/594)
Used Swift Voyager pros and cons
What we like
- Ford base vehicle
- Under 3500kg
- Family-friendly layouts
- ‘Smart’ construction
- Contemporary interior finishes
What we dislike
- No microwave oven (easy retro-fit)
Alternatives to consider
UK coachbuilts on Ford Transit: Auto-Trail F-Line/Excel; or a used Bailey Adamo/Alora.
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