Verdict
Bessacarr was in need of a refresh, and Swift has done it proud with this good-looking ’van.
This 2018-season 597 would be great for a couple who occasionally take a grandchild or two away with them.
It’s certainly comfortable to live in, although some might think that it’s missing the odd truly luxurious touch.
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Pros
The Swift Bessacarr 597’s fixed beds are both a generous size
Storage is plentiful, including a great garage
Cons
You need C1 entitlement on your licence to drive it
Some might find it quite a high step to get into the ’van
What do Autocruise and Bessacarr have in common?
Well, both were South Yorkshire-based motorhome manufacturers swept up into the Swift Group. But there the resemblance ends.
The Autocruise name disappeared from Swift’s line-up this year, but Bessacarr has been given a new lease of life.
Now known as the Bessacarr 500 series, it has had a revamp, and includes four new models. We’ve taken a look at one of them, the 597.
The fixed singles are high, but easy to reach and very comfortable, with individual lights and speakers, and large headboards
Living
We found it a little bit of a step up to get into this 2018-season Swift motorhome, but once you are inside you can make use of the handy coat hooks, and a locker that’s the ideal shape and size for shoes.
The side sofa is very comfortable. You can easily seat six around the front lounge, and the table has a slide-on extension, so they can all dine in comfort, too.
Whoever sits at the head of the table or in the swivelled cab passenger seat will have loads of leg room.
The understated beige of the 597’s upholstery is appealing, while the striking hexagonal pattern that Swift’s designers seem fond of makes an appearance in the curtains.
TV fittings are on the panel behind the driver, so children in the travel seats could feasibly watch while you are on the move.
The sunroof lets in plenty of daylight, as does a rooflight half-way between the dinette and the kitchen.
At night-time, in addition to ambient lighting, there are two LED lights and a selection of spots, including two useful bendy ones that come out from the cab.
Kitchen
The Fenix scratch-resistant worktop on the L-shaped kitchen surrounds a stainless steel sink, and there is a handy little shelf where you can keep electrical items next to two mains sockets.
There’s also a four-burner dual-fuel hob, but its cover is opaque, which does cut out some light from the window, when the lid is raised.
There isn’t a huge amount of space for food in this Swift motorhome, just two overhead lockers next to the Daewoo microwave.
The area under the worktop opens out with a cutlery tray and three shelves, but the bottom part is taken up by the Alde heater.
The pan locker under the Dometic oven and grill is substantial, despite the wheelarch.
If you can reach, there is another locker above the slimline 138-litre Dometic fridge across the aisle.
The kitchen is also well lit and has an Omnivent.
Washroom
There is a central split washroom in the 2018 Swift Bessacarr 597.
The circular shower cubicle on the offside only has one drainage hole, and the wheelarch does get in the way a bit here.
You need to step up to get into the nearside washroom, but it is brightly lit and kitted out with a small handbasin, two cupboards, shelves above the Thetford toilet and an Alde radiator.
Beds
The two fixed single beds in the 2018 Swift Bessacarr 597 are high, but easy to reach and very comfortable, with individual lights and speakers, and large headboards – they each measure 1.99 x 0.81m (6’6” x 2’8”).
There is a socket above the middle chest, and a fitting for a second TV on the wall.
You can extend the bed space in the middle with a pull-out panel to create a 2.16 x 1.20m (7’1” x 3’11”) double bed, but this makes getting into bed that bit more tricky.
The front double bed, meanwhile, is assembled by lowering the dining table and rearranging the cushions from the sofas. This gives a 2.09 x 1.23m/1.03m (6’10” x 4’0”/3’5”) bed.
Storage
Clothing storage is plentiful: at the foot of the rear beds is a pair of wardrobes, both of which are spacious.
In addition, there’s a third wardrobe towards the centre of the motorhome, with a series of shelves.
As for storage in the rest of this Swift motorhome: there are two moderately sized overhead lockers either side of the dinette.
The area below the forward-facing seats houses the battery, but there is some spare space.
And you get that great garage too, of course.
Technical Specifications
Payload | 528 kg |
MTPLM | 3850 kg |
Shipping Length | 8.11 m |
Width | 2.38 m |