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quoteBroadening the appeal
Roomy? Of course it’s roomy. Swift has upped the ante in the mainstream caravan market with the not wholly unexpected announcement of extra-wide bodied model additions to its Challenger series (also, of course, available as Eccles equivalents) with two twin axles and two singles.
First to make its debut is this, the Swift Challenger X 835 twin axle four-berth. It’s a conventional enough rear transverse island bed offering (although you don’t get many rivals putting the bed on the offside).
It’s certainly a roomy bedroom, though. Of course the bed dominates, but still there’s room for wardrobes either side, on top of units that offer tiny ledges that are often handy for placing spectacles, glasses of water etc. That bed boasts a Duvalay Gravity Luxe mattress.
Its base hinges up to offer plenty of storage despite the presence of the spare wheel in here. Padded sections around the caravan windows just make things a bit more cosy and intimate.
A solid door offers privacy between the bedroom and the next major room forward. The Challenger X 835 is also a tourer that majors on a particularly generous washroom in terms of both size and specification. Stretching across that full 2.45m width, there’s plenty of dressing space in here.
There’s also a good-sized, part-circular shower cubicle, with wardrobe adjacent, plus a swivel-bowl toilet and fixed basin.
Complementing all this are an illuminated mirror and window on the offside, plus an Alde radiator to keep your towels warm – following 2019’s offer of Truma or Alde heating systems across all Challenger caravans, Swift has gone for the latter.
In comparison, the kitchen might initially seem merely adequate, although there’s Dometic’s dual-hinged “fridge of the moment” across the corridor from the main food preparation zone on the offside. Here, you get a Thetford cooker with dual-fuel hob.
The sink is to its left, with microwave oven set above it, flanked by lockers. A standard rooflight over the kitchen area will help with ventilation.
The only anomaly here is the small cutlery drawer under the worktop.
Up front, too, there’s a bit of compromise in that it’s only a short lounge. Note the extra width gained by the central chest of drawers, though, as well as the power and light sockets on the top, with each settee extending right into the front bulkhead.
All the premium touches are here, too, like the gloss finish to the upper-level lockers, open-weave upholstery, plus fixed and opening sunroofs.
Specification might be good, but you’ll find it hard to resist the attractions of the Lux Pack option, which includes illuminated splashback, barbecue point, external 230V socket, alarm with key fob operation and external service door.
Also, if you think a Challenger X 835 caravan is beyond your budget, keep an eye out for the Swift Advance Finance service.
In this video, we take a look inside the Swift Challenger X 835 caravan:
Verdict: Challenger broadens its appeal
Plus: Roomy interior, generous washroom and bedroom…
Minus: …slightly compromised kitchen and front lounge
In-a-nutshell: Wide and handsome
There’s more information on the Challenger X range on the Swift website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page.
Alternatives: Bailey Alicanto Grande Sintra, Coachman Laser Xcel 850
Swift Challenger X 835 factfile
| Model | Swift Challenger X 835 |
| Dimensions | 7.98m L, 2.45m W, 2.59m H |
| Internal length | 6.27m |
| Berths | Four |
| MTPLM | 1,803kg |
| Payload | 165kg |
| RRP | from £28,150 |
| Safety & security | Thatcham Cat 6 tracker (subscription required), Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, CRiS VIN CHIP, entrance door deadlock |
| Key options | Lux Pack (£625), alternative upholstery (from £195), wraparound front cushions (from £175), Al-Ko ATC (£349), Al-Ko Secure lock (£265), Oyster satellite TV system (from £2,293), Cytrac DX Vision (from £1,945), Swift Command annual subscription (£95) |
Why do manufacturers always put microwaves so high, I am 5 foot, the microwave in most caravans should be set lower, don’t forget we are lifting out hot food.