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quoteHigh (on specification), wide, handsome (with drop down bed)
What a caravan lounge…There must be seating here for eight folk, if not more. And a pouffe for one more!
There’s plenty more wow-factor about the layout of the 665, too. One of three new extra-wide (hence Grande) flagship twin axle caravans from Swift for 2019. That’s thanks to its L-shaped front lounge, L-shaped kitchen, central wraparound seating section and pull-down double bed, plus fixed longitudinal bunks – a six-berth floorplan that really does offer something different.
It effortlessly lives up to its Elegance name, too, with an overly generous specification set in a body using Swift’s latest Smart 3, completely timber-free construction (a first for the maker) – backed by class-leading 10-year bodyshell and lifetime water ingress warranties.
That kit count includes all manner of luxuries – or necessities – from premium jockey wheel to rear-view camera, Alde central heating to the latest Dometic cooker, on-board fresh water tank to illuminated curtain pelmets. Keeping an eye on all this, and more, is the latest incarnation of the ever-evolving Swift Command system, allowing you to operate key facilities via an app as well as a new, larger touchscreen. Part of this is Swift’s Thatcham Cat 6 approved Command Tracker, which will give you a healthy discount on your caravan insurance.
As with any caravan – extra-wide or not – it’s all about interior space and logistics. There’s an open-plan feel to the 655, with its seating extending across the front and along the offside, and a ledge for a flatscreen TV (and a large one, at that) on the nearside.
Italian “Tecnoform” furniture throughout, includes a two-tone gloss finish to the overhead locker doors. There’s also a double-sliding doored wardrobe of a size befitting its six-berth status.
Those rear bunks are the only permanent fixed beds, although the central double bed is easy enough to pull out and drop down into position (as shown in our video).
The biggest berth, though, is the 1.94m x 1.37m double made from the front seating.
The kitchen is the usual Swift upmarket affair. That’s the latest Dometic cooker, with cut-out safety feature to its glass lid, along with what’s become the Swift-standard Fenix worktop, inset sink with add-on drainer, and a large cupboard under the sink, housing slide-out racking as well as a cutlery drawer that seems rather small in such a context. To the right of the cooker, however, it’s a huge, 190-litre Dometic fridge/freezer. Overhead is an electric vent.
The “big space” theme continues at the back, where the full-width washroom incorporates a plastic-lined shower cubicle with Ecocamel showerhead and two plugholes. The washbasin is set off-centre, leaving plenty of room around the swivel-bowl toilet.
Details include a shaving mirror, stereo speakers, window, heated towel rail, open shelving and locker storage.
Like it? Not sure? Of course, there’s one way of finding out how successful a new idea like this has been – see who’s copying it next season. Then again, why wait?
Verdict: Sitting - and sleeping - comfortably
Plus: Flagship status, lots of luxuries, roomiest of lounges
Minus: There's still some bed making, the usual heavyweight of towing issues
In-a-nutshell: Grande by name, grand by nature
There’s more information on the Elegance Grande range on the Swift website . To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page
Alternatives: Adria Adora Sava, Buccaneer Aruba, Lunar Alaria TS
Swift Elegance Grande 655 factfile
| Model | Swift Elegance Grande 655 |
| Dimensions | 7.89m L x 2.45m W x 2.59m H |
| Internal length | 6.36m |
| Berths | 6 |
| MTPLM | 1,925kg |
| Payload | 180kg |
| RRP | from £34,370 |
| Safety & security | Swift Command, including Thatcham Cat 6 tracker (subscription required), Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser, Al-Ko ATC, Al-Ko Secure wheel locks, infra-red alarm system, rear view camera, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, CRiS, VIN Chip. |
| Key options | Alternative upholsteries (from £195), Oyster satellite TV system (from £2,293), Cytrac DX Vision (from £2,429), wraparound front lounge (from £175) |
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