Swift is one of the leaders in the caravan and motor home industry and it's very clear as to why. Thier innovative and clever use of space as well as up to date gadgets and gizmo's, give the caravans a very up to date yet homely feel, with clever use of fabrics and woods as well as metal and clear shiny venner finishes.

We purchased this Swift Kudos 524 only 3 weeks ago now and must say after only one trip away for 4 nights, we love it and think the value for money is  great. The van was only 4 years old when we purchased it and had had only 1 very careful owner who had really looked after it as it still looked unused!

So.... lets give it our honest review!
The  Kudos has a lovely sleek look with contemporary decals,front window seals proudly displaying the Swift name, along with a lovely shiny silver swift logo badge displayed on an extremely generous sized front locker!
It already came with an ATC stabiliser which was well tested on our very trip when cut up on the motorway by another caravanner you'll be shocked to hear! You could feel the caravan using it's breaks and we stopped with inches to spare, as well as the breaks you can feel, in our opinion the stabiliser working especially during wind or whenever huge trucks overtake on the motorway. Now I'm a very nervous passenger at the best of times and  this became ten fold  when towing I'd admit.
I explained to Jason how nervous I was and that I hated it when he was overtaking. I didn't understand that it's actually saver to over take, than to be overtaken when it come to trucks and HGV's due to the winds from said trucks making your caravan unsteady. Once this was explained by a very patient Jason and then obviously those safety elements kicking, I settled down to our 2 hour journey a little more easy and educated.

The Alko hitchlock  was very reliable and easy to use, strong yet not too strong to apply and release, its material looks like it can stand the test of time and weather, although we have invested in a hitch cover to protect it from the elements.

So moving around the van, we'll start on the off side. Here you will find the flap for the truma water pump as well as the battery locker,including electric hook up point and further along the van the opening for the pink flush  for the cassette toilet and underneath the cassette toilet itself, which is big in capacity and easy to take out and to lock back in.
We changed and emptied the cassette toilet a few times (mainly due to our alcohol consumption) and it was a simple and easy exercise. There is also a slide for an awning if required, side reflectors down the van and three good sized darkened windows.

Around the back there are all the lights required for travelling, no window, a swift logo, reflectors and high brake light. A good, clean,sleek and tidy look for the back end !

And around to the nearside, this gives us a good outside locker for storage under the nearside seats. A set of  vents for the 3 way fridge/freezer and a stable style door with window and fly screen, in addition to a good secure lock, comfy handle and door bin. Complete with reflector's and a awning light. We received a fob for the awning light and alarm system. (not sure if the alarm system came with the van or was fitted by previous owner). A gas barbecue point gives you the outside cooking option on those summer days.

On the inside of the van:

The lounge area is clean, airy and bright, with plenty of light coming in through the hecki roof window and sloping roof window at the front of the van, thus giving a fresh feel, the plain upholstery is contemporary and understated, floral scatter cushions give a homely feel.
A Jvc radio/CD player provides the evenings entertainment along with two sets of sockets for a TV depending where you like to have the television, two plug sockets and a 12v cigarette charging point. I prefer the TV on the drawers upfront, where as Jason won the race and we placed it on the unit between the lounge and dinette. This did leave wires hanging down over the dinette seats, I would've preferred the wires hidden but we cant have it all! 5 more good sized windows finish the bright airy look.
The seating can easily fit four if not six at a squeeze,  the rounded cushions towards the front of the van make for comfortable lounging. above there are four reading lamps,very generous as you usually only find the 2.

There are two light switches above, one for what I like to call "mood lighting"  bands of low light above the storage cupboards and the other for a generous "big light" for the darker nights.

4 good sized lockers in contemporary wood style, a mid brown oak look colour and finished with a modern silver stripe can be found above the lounge.  Two shelves could hold a free view box or DVD player or if you fancy,  a small drinks section for glasses and miniature's!!

The bed is a good size ( a double mattress protector didn't stretch the whole bed), and we preferred to have the seats the right way up when making up the bed as the underside was a bit hard for me.
The pull out slats are nice and strong and slightly curved for that extra comfort. A cabinet with two generous sized drawers and under storage with pull down door, this also includes a pull out table for two which can be made into a six place dining table using the large freestanding table.

Each window is equipped with locks, opener's and good quality fly blinds, black out blinds and curtains making it perfect for keeping out light and providing a good nights sleep. All in all a great space for an insomniac like me as I slept beautifully.

The kitchen or galley as some might say:

Here is the where I believe the heart of any home really is. The kitchen area is really nice, a very generous size, including a large round sink with cover, acting as a chopping board, a mixer tap, a three gas burner hob and hotplate, glass lid and protector for anyone entering during cooking.
A lovely sleek black oven and grill. Only one plug socket though, which I found disappointing, as i had to switch between kettle and toaster as required.

Above there are three big cupboards with secure lock opener's, although these open to the side and I would've like them to open upwards, save those horrid head banging moments of which I had two! good work top space matches the dining tables perfectly.


 The cooker lid can be doubled up as a drainer or workspace, below next to the cooker is a  three way fridge/freezer and a slide out cupboard with two shelves perfect for tin storage while travelling. A pan storage with pull down door under the cooker, two generous cutlery drawers and an two shelf cupboard which is huge. A medium sized window allows for light to flood in and above an up to date microwave provides quick hot meals. A fan in the roof over the cooker which is quiet and gets rid of those cooking smells, a smoke alarm provides security as well a carbon monoxide detector bringing peace of mind.
A tall mirror in the entrance  and two built in, strong coat hangers finish the near side kitchen area.


Opposite is a  tidy twin dinette, if you don't want to lug the table from one end of the van to the other to eat in the lounge then this dinette is perfect.  If you're not bringing the grandchildren this can be left set up, ready to serve up and eat meals in comfort. This also becomes the bunk beds with a privacy curtain and two reading lights, adding two extra sleeping places!! Above, three more generous lockers provide extra kitchen or clothing storage.



Last and not least the bathroom:

I like a big end washroom and this ticked all my require boxes, blown heating here and through out the van provides lovely blown heat as you change or shower, the loose fitting carpets in the washroom and the entire van add an air of luxury underfoot.
To the left is a flush toilet easy to use and swivels for that perfect sitting position with a frosted window above plus a chrome toilet roll fitting.  Situated next to the toilet is a large sized wardrobe with shelves, perfect for towels and dirty washing storage too, this contains the workings for the TV aerial. Next to that facing the door a huuuuge mirror with a light above and enormous sink and mixer tap, underneath a small shelf and a massive shelved cupboard. The shower is the most powerful I've ever encountered in a van, ( I like to use the van shower as much as possible so this is a big box checked for me), The shower head can be used in two ways, continuous or in spurts which is great and water heating by Truma gives up to 60 degrees hot water!! The shower unit has two big shelves and is plenty big enough to use without banging elbows and feeling cramped. A window provides yet more light as well as a ceiling light that illuminates the whole bathroom, a fitted robe hook finish the luxury feel!
So all in all we LOVE our new van and plan on keeping it for a long time to come!!

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