The Caravan Club – September 2019

September 2019 Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine http://www.camc.com

TEST SWIFT KON-TIKI SPORT 560

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t might be hard to believe but the 2020 season

is here already and Swift is set to unveil a host

of motorhomes, including a whole new range in

the shape of Kon-tiki Sport. The seven-model

line-up (13 if you take into account seating

options), usurps the Bessacarr range of recent

years and offers a more mainstream complement

to the upmarket original Kon-tikis.

This is the 560, a standard-formula French

bed model that’s always going to find preference

with couples, despite having the capability to

transport and accommodate up to four. Hats off

to Swift for not publishing a low shop-window

price that simply gets hiked up when you add

various essential options packs. Everything you

see here is standard.

BUILD QUALITY

The usual SMART construction is behind

the bodywork on all Kon-tiki Sports. It’s an

acronym for Strong, Modern, Aerodynamic,

Sports come with a metallic black cab and some

particularly striking graphics. They start the

s e a s o n w i t h Fi at’s E u r o 6 15 0 b hp e n g i ne, b u t

newer Euro 6d versions are on the way.

DRIVING

Fiat’s Ducato may be showing its age a bit

now but there’s no denying its qualities as

a base vehicle for a low-profile, 23ft-long

coachbuilt motorhome like this. The

Kon-tiki drives well with the bonus of the

extra refinement that comes from Fiat’s more

powerful 150bhp engine.

The cab itself lacks the quality offered by other

base vehicles in some aspects but the bronze plastic

trim around the vents and centre console help to

lift a dashboard that might otherwise look a little

mundane. Remis cab blinds are here too, while,

pleasingly, Swift hasn’t overlooked a safe travel

location for the side-fixing table – there’s a

dedicated locker to the left of the fridge.

Sport extra

Nick Harding takes an early look at the newcomer to Swift’s iconic Kon-tiki range

Spacious lounge

with table extension

Cab seats swivel

for mealtime

Resilient, Tested – it’s a timber-free set-up with

GRP outer and inner walls as well as under

floor, all backed by a 10-year warranty.

The full-length, partially recessed (streamlined

but not impinging on locker space inside) awning

is standard, as are a twin-lens reversing camera

coupled to a 7in LCD screen and a back panel that

includes fixings for a bike rack. All Kon-tiki