At just 5.99m long and 2.26m wide, the new-for-2016 Swift Rio 325 fits a lot into a relatively small space
We like the Rio 325’s black, white and red styling – it’s a sharp, modern looking motorhome
With ‘Aralie Sen’ cabinet work and ‘Loxley’ soft furnishings, the 2016 Swift Rio 325 has a pleasing interior vibe
There are two belted travel seats in the dinette – both are comfortable, have lots of legroom and benefit from being next to a large window
The clip-on lounge table means a couple can sit next to or opposite each other at meal times, or you can accommodate a party of four
It’s not a massive ‘van, but the kitchen is well-specced and there’s a worktop extension to give cooks more space
An illuminated splashback and cream locker facings tick the style boxes, while the separate oven and grill, the dual-fuel cooker and the fridge with separate freezer contribute to the super spec
It’s great to see a microwave oven fitted, but it might be set too high for shorter motorcaravanners
There’s a 230V socket to the left of the worktop in the kitchen, plus controls for the drop-down bed are here, with key operation as a fail-safe to prevent the bed from being raised or lowered by curious little fingers
As with all Swift’s fixed-bed motorhomes, the rear bedroom in the 325 sports a Duvalay memory-foam mattress – the bed measures 1.85m x 1.3m (6ft 1in x 4ft 3in)

The half-length wardrobe is next to the bed and is large enough to take a couple’s touring finery – its top forms the bedroom TV station
A TV point is located on the washroom bulkhead with power and aerial connections, plus a bracket for attaching a TV stand
The front dinette offers an occasional berth, by using a grey infill cushion to plug the gap between the travel seat bench and driver’s seat
The multi-function washroom has a shower tray that doubles as the floor, however the space is well lined to keep splashing water contained
The washroom has a swivel, electric-flush Thetford toilet and a sink with a mixer tap that doubles as the showerhead – read more in Practical Motorhome’s Swift Rio 325 review
A cupboard for lotions and potions plus a half-length mirror complete the fittings in the washroom
A pair of handy hooks sits next to the habitation door in this Swift Rio 325
The large sunroof over the cab lends the front dinette a bright and roomy feel; its retractable action will be welcome in warmer climes
The cab lacks steering wheel controls for the audio system, but cab air-con and a passenger airbag are standard
It’s Truma iNet ready, so you can add control for the Combi 4 heating via smartphone or tablet (left), while the ergonomic and intuitive combined control panel above the habitation door (right) is one of the best you’ll find
The rear bed has two height settings – use it like this while in transit when you need the garage’s full headroom
Once on site, with any items removed, simply press the button to drop the bed smoothly to its lowered ‘sleeping’ position
The single-piece GRP rear panel has rails for fitting a bike rack – when in transit, bicycles can be stowed in the rear garage
New for 2016, the Swift Rio 325 has an innovative height-adjustable transverse bed over a rear garage and a fab kitchen, all in a sub-six-metre footprint
Verdict
With a more conventional design – minus the rear tailgate – this new Swift Rio 325 should prove popular with traditionalists looking for a compact and well-equipped two-berth. In addition to the garage, there are plenty of storage options. And to see other Swift motorhomes for sale, click here.
Pros
It handles well on the road and is very manageably sized The kitchen is well equipped Storage is good
Cons
The washroom is a touch compromised
Swift’s Rio was one of the most distinctive British-made motorhome launches of 2014 (for the 2015 season). A low-profile coachbuilt sporting a rear tailgate to create an open aspect from the rear lounges, the inaugural 320 and 340 models have now been joined by two siblings.
Both eschew the tailgate, although the 325, which we are reviewing here, retains its innovation credentials with a height-adjustable transverse rear bed over a garage; the 5.99m-long 310 model has a parallel lounge and an end washroom.
Ride quality is good and, with a wheel at each corner, handling is assured
Living
The large sunroof over the cab brightens the Rio 325’s dinette, already helped by the mid-tone cabinet work. These surfaces combine well with the oatmeal-and-brown upholstery, relieved by a turquoise accent. The light worktops match the unmistakably Swift Group beige mouldings overhead.
Extra guests can easily join you for meals and snacks, courtesy of a clip-on lounge table and swivelling front seats. The choice of seating will also work well for a couple, who can face each other rather than sitting side-by-side on a seat bench.
Kitchen
Equipment in the Rio 325’s kitchen is generous. A dual-fuel cooker, a separate oven and grill, and a fridge with a separate freezer compartment top the list, supported by a microwave oven and a circular sink. There’s style to go with the substance, too, thanks to an illuminated splashback and cream locker facings.
Preparation space is not extensive, but this should not present a hardship for tidy cooks. Close the cooker lids, fit the sink infill cover and extend the tip-up flap to the right of the cooker and there’s some decent work surface to play with. To the left of the worktop is a 230V socket that is ideal for toasters, a sandwich-maker or a coffee machine.
A rooflight above the microwave can rid the motorhome of cooking odours and steam.
Washroom
On a body length of 5.99m, the Swift Rio 325’s washroom was always going to have to be a multi-function space. Step into the combined shower tray and toilet floor where there’s a swivel, electric-flush Thetford.
Behind this is a moulded unit containing a sink and a mixer tap that doubles as the showerhead. A curtain on a U-shaped track keeps spray from the wooden door, and users also get a half-length mirror.
Beds
When it’s time to go to sleep in this two-berth ’van, you’ll be accommodated in the transverse bed above the rear garage. It measures a respectable 1.85m x 1.3m (6ft 1in x 4ft 3in).
Storage
A rear garage, accessed only on the nearside, heads up the storage options in the Rio 325. Two lockers are fitted in the lounge, while two in the kitchen boast crockery racks. These are joined by a cutlery drawer, a narrow cabinet and a pan cupboard under the oven.
Three lockers hang on the rear wall above the bed. A wardrobe next to the bed features restrainers to stow the dining table in transit.
