Verdict
The Sprite Quattro DD is a better home for this layout than the more upmarket Swift/Sterling ranges were.
In this part of the market an affordable, large family tourer such as this comes into its own. The build quality and spec should further entice family buyers to what is a very practical layout.
It’s great as just a four-berth, too, offering acres of space, and as a twin-axle van it has the marketplace to itself.
Pros
It feels solidly built
You get a good specification
The seating is supportive
Storage throughout impresses
The kitchen is spacious and practical
Cons
The window on the rear panel is rather small
Another mains socket would be good, especially in the kitchen
Back in 2016, Swift introduced the Sterling Eccles 640 and twin Swift Challenger 640, both of which sported a double dinette.
However, this layout – which was once a major hit with family buyers – has fallen out of favour as fixed bunk-bed caravans gain popularity, so those two twin-axle tourers were quietly dropped.
But it now appears that Swift might have missed a trick, because the floorplan is still a popular one on used forecourts, particularly with larger families.
So Swift’s thinking seems to be that if it moves this layout to the lower-priced, value-for-money Sprite, perhaps it could be just what the family man or woman is looking for, in a more affordable package.
Hence the arrival of the Sprite Quattro DD, launched at the NEC show last February.
At least, that was when it was given its public airing. We have known about its imminent appearance since July last year, and had been eagerly awaiting this new family caravan.
Only two other tourers have this layout: the Coachman Vision 570 and the Adria Altea Eden – both are single-axles and don’t sleep six.
And to see other Sprite caravans for sale, click here.
The build quality and spec should further entice family buyers to what is a very practical layout
Pitching & Setting-up
Based on an Al-Ko twin-axle chassis, the Quattro DD from the 2017 range of Sprite caravans should prove a stable tow, especially if you opt for the £595 Diamond Pack which includes an AKS stabiliser, as well as alloy wheels.
Most buyers will probably add a mover, unless the van is going to be used on a seasonal pitch.
The large front gas locker has plenty of room for random items, as well as gas bottles.
For 2017, all Sprites now boast GRP sidewalls, which provides a more dent-resistant exterior finish.
The front panel is a one-piece moulded section complete with triple windows, while the rear panel is also a full-height moulding with one central window.
All service points are placed on the offside, which keeps them out of any awning’s way.
The Sprite has smart graphics and, thanks to the sunroof option (which everyone goes for), the Quattro DD looks good.
Living
Having two lounges in here certainly means there’s plenty of seating space – and, let’s face it, on a damp day children need as much space as parents.
So the rear lounge offers a kids’ zone, with two single settees and a central chest of drawers that comes with a slide-out small table. There are twin blown-air outlets here, too, plus LED corner spotlights for night-time use.
There’s also a TV point in the cupboard underneath the chest of drawers – you feed the wires up behind it – and a mains socket, bringing the total to four, although an extra one wouldn’t have gone amiss.
At least the seat bases have access flaps, so you can put bedding away without disturbing anyone.
The main front lounge also offers good seating – it’s a great area for parents to relax in or for the whole family to get together.
As with the rear lounge, there is a central chest of drawers and a slide-out occasional table, with a freestanding unit for main meal times. LED spotlights are used in the front lounge, with central integral lighting in the ceiling.
And again, as with the rear lounge, there are mains sockets here plus a TV aerial point, but there’s only one blown-air outlet for the Truma Combi heating. Access flaps are fitted in the seat bases, while the sunroof lets in lots of light.
The two lounges provide good facilities. Overhead lockers are fitted in both, and in the front area a CD/radio/MP3 player is placed in one of the side lockers.
Kitchen
A large side kitchen is the key in a big family caravan, particularly one that’s equipped with the essentials.
The Sprite Quattro DD’s kitchen comes with a combined oven and grill plus a three-burner hob.
A Dometic 100-litre fridge is standard, while the Diamond Pack’s microwave is neatly fitted centrally in the overhead lockers. The sink unit is in an off-white finish and comes with a clip-on drainer.
The worktop is a good size and at night the Sprite’s kitchen has superb LED downlighters, plus a striplight under the main roof locker.
One mains socket (finished with a chrome surround) is placed in the kitchen area along with the main light switch.
Overall, the kitchen works well and should be more than capable of catering for six.
Washroom
Side washrooms are renowned for being less spacious than end bathrooms, but the DD has a sizeable space that is ideal for small children.
In fact, the separate moulded shower cubicle might even be deep enough to be used as a baby bath if needed!
The washroom also comes with a deep washbasin, with a mirror above and a smallish cupboard below.
Although a roof vent provides essential ventilation and some natural light, a side window would have been a nice addition.
The electric-flush Thetford swivel cassette toilet is fitted right up against the washbasin, but floor space is okay, so this doesn’t present an issue.
Beds
The front lounge area can be made up into twin single beds using the super-thick cushions – these measure 1.80m x 0.72m (offside) and 1.90m x 0.72m nearside. These also have two large bolsters, which could be used as pillows, if required.
Making up the double (2.02m x 1.80m) means using pull-out slats to bridge the gap. Such a system is perfectly adequate, but the bed-making method used in the Swift Basecamp – with slide-out bases – might have been better.
When it comes to the rear dinette, these two settees can also be made up as single beds – or a large, 2.02m x 1.33m double – if you only need to sleep two back here.
However, if there are more of you, then each side also boasts the familiar fold-up bunk design. This works well and allows the rear bedroom to sleep up to four children, with a fabric divider screen to give privacy.
The rear offside bunks are 1.86m x 0.64m (lower) and 1.73m x 0.59m (upper), while those along the nearside measure 1.76 m x 0.64m (lower) and 1.63m x 0.59m (upper).
Storage
If you take the full compliment of six people on tour, the Sprite will have its work cut out. So how does it fare?
There are aircraft-style lockers over the front lounge and a central chest of drawers with a cupboard below. There’s also storage in the front seat bases, while outside you have a good-sized gas locker.
The double-doored wardrobe comes with a shelf, while the kitchen has a large cupboard, drawers and three overhead lockers.
The washroom has a cupboard plus two wall shelves, but there’s no other storage in here.
The rear lounge area boasts more under-seat storage plus that other central chest of drawers. Four overhead lockers are complemented by shelving in the corners.
So overall, the Sprite Quattro DD’s storage should be good for up to six on board.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 6 |
| MiRO | 1399 kg |
| Payload | 243 kg |
| MTPLM | 1624 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.92 m |
| Width | 2.24 m |
