SWIFT Leisure Home Prestbury
Price £22,395 Berths 6 MIRO 1374kg MTPLM 1550kg In a crowded market, the numerous extras in this family-friendly dealer special make it stand out
SWIFT’S FAMOUS SPRITE brand is one of the UK’S best-selling ranges, and that’s no surprise, with its 70+ years of heritage and super value for money.
It’s also perfect for a dealer special. In fact, the majority of Swift dealerships offer specials based on the Sprite line-up.
Leisure Sales, in Sandbach, Cheshire, has been no stranger to dealer specials, basing them on Lunar models in the past. Now Sprite makes the ideal choice for its Leisure Home special editions, named after various areas in the firm’s near vicinity.
Our choice was the Prestbury, a model based on the Sprite Major 6 TD, a cracking family tourer. So would it be even better in Leisure Sales guise?
Pitch and set-up
The Prestbury has a smart modern exterior, and is one of the best-looking in its class, in our opinion. The robust GRP sides sport stylish special graphics.
The Al-ko chassis has an AKS stabiliser hitch, and ATC also aids towing stability. For barbecue lovers, the Prestbury has an exterior gas point on the front nearside, where there’s also a mains socket. Another welcome feature is the 100W solar panel.
As well as a large front gas locker, the Prestbury has a handy exterior-access locker on the nearside – ideal for stowing away those muddy walking boots!
The van also offers GRP front and rear panels, a spare wheel and a glazed door. Alloy wheels are standard, as are the sunroof and smart chrome grab handles.
Lounge
The comfortable front lounge has spacious settees – six people will be able to sit here for a meal at the freestanding table.
A chest of drawers adds storage space, and there is a slide-out coffee table and a blown-air outlet here, too. Access flaps for the seat bases also make using these storage areas a great deal easier.
Overhead lockers provide more storage, and LEDS just below offer some lighting – although we would prefer adjustable corner spotlights, not built-in units. There are additional lights around the sunroof.
Curtains and pleated blinds offer privacy. Extra scatter cushions are included and the seating is upgraded from standard Sprite.
Kitchen
The side kitchen has a good run of work surface, finished in a charcoal effect, and an extension flap adds more if needed.
You’ll find ample storage in cupboards and overhead lockers, and a microwave is fitted as standard. There are two mains sockets and LED downlighters.
The fridge is a 110-litre Dometic, but the three-burner hob is gas only.
Beds
The Prestbury is aimed at younger families who want a separate playing and sleeping area for the children – there are two fixed bunks to the side, each with a window, and a side dinette that converts to a bed with a drop-down bunk above.
The front lounge seating converts to a large double bed, using pull-out slats, or twin singles.
Washroom
The washroom on the offside adds a light above the mirror, but otherwise it’s standard Sprite – excellent, in other words. The shower cubicle is separate from the Thetford electric-flush cassette toilet and the handbasin. There’s no window, but a roof vent provides light and ventilation. The basin is a good size, with storage below and some shelving.
Storage
For a family of six, storage could be a big ask in a tourer, and limited space means that designers have to do what they can.
In the Prestbury, there are deep overhead lockers up front, plus storage beneath the lounge seating. The wardrobe is not huge, due in part to the shower cubicle taking up space, but it is a full-height unit.
The washroom has a cupboard beneath the basin and handy shelves mounted on the wall, and storage in the kitchen is also reasonable. At the rear of the van, there are more overhead lockers, plus shelves and a small cupboard. The bottom bunk provides extra storage space and the side dinette opposite has yet more room below the seats. We reckon storage for a family of up to six should be fine, especially for short breaks.
Thumbs up
Children have their own area; glazed door, ATC and alarm Thumbs down
No dual-fuel hob, no adjustable corner spotlights
Verdict
The Sprite Major 6 TD is a great buy in itself, and a dealer special, such as the Leisure Home Prestbury, adds even more appeal to an already excellent tourer.
The list of additions is impressive, and we particularly like the alarm and ATC, the glazed door and the solar panel, and the blown-air heating throughout.
The exterior barbecue point and mains socket will be great for dining outdoors.
Although we might have expected to see a dual-fuel hob as part of the Prestbury’s upgraded spec, the extras on offer make this another Sprite-based special to look out for. All in all, we think the Prestbury is a winning proposition, standing out in what is a rather crowded market sector.