- Torquey Fiat Diesel provides superb performance
- Well thought-out bathroom with separate hand-basin, shower and toilet areas
- Excellent lighting and warm interior
- Dining for six
- Low profile Luton for storage
The Swift Voyager base vehicle is a Fiat Ducato Maxi 130. The motorhome body has a low profile Luton front allowing for storage, rather than a bed, over the cab.
The interior
A retractable step, large grab-handle and wide door make it easy to enter the Voyager. On this model the entry is amidships, with the lounge/dinette forward behind the cab seats, the kitchen opposite the entry, and the bed and bathroom aft. A folding “privacy” screen closes off the rear area from the kitchen/lounge area.
The interior colours, tone-on-tone rectangles of beige, bronze and gold, create an interior that is light and airy. Two large roof hatches and a window each side offer good daytime lighting. At night, the combination of ceiling and reading lights can be adjusted to create a warm ambience. Another plus – the lights mounted above each cab seat are on the house battery circuit. They provide better light for reading than do the cab lights, and they don’t flatten the starting battery if left on too long.
By rotating the cab seats and sliding out the table extension to allow diners to sit on the settee, the dining area seats four comfortably or up to six at a pinch. The forward-facing dinette seats are fitted with lap/diagonal seat belts, and although they are a bit upright for my taste, the deep, rolled edge cushions provide comfortable support. This area converts into a second double bed.
The kitchen
The food prep area includes the Dometic 175-litre fridge with separate freezer; the Thetford four-hob cooker (three gas, one electric) with separate grill and oven; a large sink basin; excellent bench lighting; plate retainer in the overhead cupboard; and an innovative rotating shelf corner cupboard. Unfortunately there is no expelair, a lack of bench-top space, and no pull-out pantry.
The bathroom
I like the wide, solid door Swift fitted to the bathrooms in its RVs. The bathroom has been well thought-out, with separate hand-basin, shower and toilet areas. Screens are unfolded to keep shower spray within the shower cubicle area, a wooden draining board raises the occupant’s feet clear of draining water, and a large ceiling hatch allows steam to escape.
With plenty of shelves and storage for toiletries, a toilet roll holder, adequate mirrors, vanity bench-space and lighting, it is one of the most practical motorhome bathrooms around.
Sleeping areas
The innerspring mattress over slats on the Voyager is very comfortable. However, check before you buy if you are over 1800mm tall, because with the cut-away corner it could be a tight fit for you.
A nice feature is the “dummy” wall that provides an air gap to insulate sleepers from the cold wall at night.
A large storage space beneath the bed is accessed by lifting the mattress (gas strut assisted) or from outside through a hatch in the side of the vehicle. There is a large wardrobe and four big overhead lockers, all with shelves.
Driving performance
The Voyager is a dream to drive. Coupled with the 2.3-litre 130bhp MultiJet diesel engine, the six-speed manual transmission has a very slick change and offers a ratio for every situation. Between Taupo and Turangi it cruised happily at 100km/h and negotiated the tight bends and steep incline near Hatepe without once delaying other vehicles in the traffic stream. It is indeed, a Swift Voyager.
See Swift RVs for sale.
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Specifications
Base vehicle Fiat Ducato 2.3 diesel
Power 130hp (96kW) @ 3600rpm
Torque 320Nm @ 2000rpm
Length/width /height 7080mm/2330mm/2950mm
Berths Four
Power supply 230V/12V; 25 amp charger for 95 amp-hour house battery
Cooker Four hob; three Gas, one electric
Fridge 175 litre
Toilet Thetford cassette
Fresh water 90L
Grey water 68L
