Niewiadow N126 ET (2027): Compact mini-caravan with pop-up roof & toilet from Poland

White and blue waves, rounded corners, a one-piece body. If you went camping in Poland or East Germany in the '80s, you'll recognize this cult caravan right away: the Niewiadow N126 ET.

The N126 has been in production since 1973. Back then it still sat on the chassis of the Fiat 126p, which is where the name comes from. Today it's one of the longest-running micro or mini caravans still built almost unchanged.

The "ET" in the name stands for the version with a toilet compartment. In a body with 270 centimeters of interior length, Niewiadow fits a kitchen, a seating area with a double bed, and an enclosed washroom with a cassette toilet. The permitted total weight: 750 kilos.

That puts this classic up against two similarly compact newcomers from Turkey: the Tosbiq TK 240 and the Ankaravan Micro 240. Who wins?

The egg from Poland: body and dimensions

The N126 ET's body is made entirely of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (GFK). Underneath sits a welded, hot-dip galvanized steel frame with an AL-KO or Knott axle. There's no wood that could rot anywhere in the outer shell.

Under the roof is a pop-up roof with a mosquito net. Folded out, it increases the standing height inside to nearly 185 centimeters.

According to the data sheet at the trade show booth, the dimensions are:

• Total length (with drawbar): 388 cm

• Width: 194 cm

• Height: 218 cm

• Interior: 270 × 184 cm

• Sleeping area: 184 × 122 cm

The German Niewiadow website lists slightly different figures (395 × 195 × 223 cm). So depending on the equipment and measuring method, the numbers vary by a few centimeters.

Things get interesting with the weight. According to Niewiadow Germany, the empty weight is 570 kilos. Dealer miniCaravan, however, lists only 111 kilos of payload – which points to roughly 640 kilos instead. The permitted total weight is 750 kilos, and on request the mini caravan can be upgraded to 900 kilos. It's approved for speeds up to 100 km/h.

Floor plan and equipment: convertible seating area, kitchen, toilet, battery

The kitchen sits crosswise at the front, the seating area is at the back, and the small washroom is built permanently into the body. In the evening, the seating area turns into a sleeping space measuring 184 × 122 centimeters. It's a bit tight for a couple, but fine for one person – as long as you're not too tall. There's no third sleeping spot in this model.

Standard equipment includes:

• 2-burner gas stove and sink with retractable faucet

• Dometic compressor fridge (50 or 57 liters, depending on the source)

• 10-liter water canister with immersion pump

• Enclosed washroom with folding sink and Thetford cassette toilet

• 80 Ah battery, 12V/230V charger, USB outlet, LED lighting inside and on the awning

• Blinds with mosquito nets, shock-absorber suspension, spare wheel, entry step

What's missing here: a shower. The ET is a toilet model, not a bathroom model. Heating, solar, and an awning also aren't standard.

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What does the N126 ET cost?

The base price at the trade show: 15,060 euros. The Niewiadow website lists it as "starting at 14,620 euros."

The show vehicle came with these extras:

On top of that come 795 euros for vehicle preparation and 99 euros for COC papers, registration certificate, and gas inspection. At the trade show there was a 5 percent discount on the whole order, bringing the price down to 16,615 euros plus additional costs.

Our tip: You should order the heater if you're not only traveling in midsummer. It's by far the most expensive extra, but it's what makes this small caravan usable in cooler weather.

Niewiadow vs. Tosbiq vs. Ankaravan: the comparison

Shape: egg vs. box

Visually, the three worlds couldn't be more different. The N126 ET is a rounded egg made of fiberglass, flat and narrow. At 218 centimeters tall, it's a good 20 centimeters lower than the two Turkish models and a bit narrower, too. You only get standing height once you pop up the roof.

Tosbiq and Ankaravan are tall boxes with a fixed roof. That means you can stand inside right away, no folding or popping required.

Equipment: the Polish classic is more basic

When it comes to comfort, the newcomers take the lead. Both have a shower option, a diesel heater, and solar on board — the Tosbiq even comes with a 90-liter fridge. The Niewiadow sticks to the classic gas setup: gas stove, optional gas heater, no shower.

That has its upsides, too. Gas works without a mains hookup, while the induction hob in the Tosbiq only runs on a 230-volt connection. And less tech on board means less that can break.

Price: in the end, they're all pretty close

Stripped down, the Ankaravan is the cheapest at around €10,000 — but that's without a braked axle, solar, or heating. With comparable equipment, all three land between €15,000 and €17,500.

The real difference lies elsewhere: Niewiadow has over 50 years of production experience, a dealer network in Germany, and solid resale values. With Tosbiq and Ankaravan, you should take a closer look at the COC papers, warranty terms, and spare parts supply.

Is the N126 ET a good fit for an electric car?

This is where the Niewiadow really shines. With a gross weight of 750 kilos, your tow vehicle only needs a braked towing capacity of 750 kilos — something many smaller EVs can handle. You'll find the towing capacity in your vehicle registration under section O.1. The only model that matches this is the Ankaravan Micro 240, which also has a 750-kilo gross weight and, starting at 440 kilos, is even lighter.

You're on the safe side with your driver's license, too: a trailer up to 750 kilos gross weight is always allowed with a class B license, as long as your tow vehicle stays under 3.5 tonnes gross weight. With the Tosbiq's 1,000 kilos, you'd need a car with a maximum gross weight of 2,500 kilos — otherwise you'll need a B96 or BE license.

If you have it upgraded to 900 kilos, the same rules apply as with the Tosbiq, both for your car and your license. So the upgrade only makes sense if both line up.

When it comes to range, frontal area is what matters most. And the flat, rounded N126 ET has a noticeably smaller one than its taller, boxier competitors. Even the lighter Micro 240 can't keep up here. That should translate into a noticeable fuel-economy advantage.

Verdict: who is the Niewiadow N126 ET right for?

The N126 ET is the mini caravan for couples and solo travelers who like things simple and fit — height-wise — into the relatively short, narrow bed. It's light, flat, towable with any class B license, and fits behind almost any electric car. Having your own toilet on board means no more nighttime walks across the campsite.

If you want a shower, need plenty of cold storage, or want to camp off-grid with solar power, you're better off with the Tosbiq or Ankaravan. But with the Niewiadow, you're buying into a concept that's worked for over 50 years, backed by a dealer network in Germany.