Built for over 50 years, now with a toilet: can the cult egg from Poland hold its own against the Turkish mini caravans?

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

The N126 has been in production since 1973. Back then it still sat on the chassis of a Fiat 126p, hence the name. Today it's one of the longest-running micro caravans built in series with barely any changes.

The "ET" in the name stands for the version with a toilet room. Within a body just 270 centimeters long inside, Niewiadow fits a kitchen, a seating area with a double bed, and an enclosed washroom with a cassette toilet. The maximum permitted 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 this race?

The egg from Poland: build and dimensions

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

Under the roof hides a pop-up top with mosquito netting. Once popped up, standing height inside grows to almost 185 centimeters.

The dimensions according to the spec sheet at the trade show stand:

• Overall 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). Depending on the equipment and measuring method, the numbers vary by a few centimeters.

Things get interesting when it comes to weight. According to Niewiadow Germany, the empty weight is 570 kilos. Dealer miniCaravan, however, lists only 111 kilos of payload — which points to more like 640 kilos empty weight. The maximum permitted 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.

Layout and equipment: convertible seating area, kitchen, toilet, battery

The kitchen sits crosswise up front, the seating area is at the back, and the small washroom is permanently built in. In the evening, the seating area converts into a sleeping space measuring 184 × 122 centimeters. It's a tight fit for a couple, but fine for one person, as long as they're not too tall. This model doesn't offer a third sleeping spot.

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 socket, 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 included as 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 "from 14,620 euros."

The show vehicle came equipped with the following extras:

On top of that come 795 euros for handover 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 to 16,615 euros plus additional costs.

Our tip: order the heater if you're not just camping in peak summer. It's by far the priciest extra, but it's what makes this little caravan usable in cooler weather.

Niewiadow vs. Tosbiq vs. Ankaravan: the comparison

Shape: egg versus box

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

Tosbiq and Ankaravan are tall boxes with a fixed roof. That means you can stand up inside right away, no need to fold anything out first.

Equipment: The Polish classic keeps it basic

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

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

Price: In the end, they're all close together

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

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 suitable for towing with an EV?

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. Plenty of smaller EVs can handle that. You'll find the towing capacity on your vehicle registration under section O.1. The only model on par here is the Ankaravan Micro 240, which also has a gross weight of 750 kilos and, starting at 440 kilos, is even lighter.

You're on safe ground with your driving 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 at 1,000 kilos, you'll need a car with a gross weight of no more than 2,500 kilos — otherwise you'll need a B96 or BE license.

If you upgrade the gross weight to 900 kilos, the same rules apply for car and license as with the Tosbiq. So the upgrade only pays off if both line up.

For range, frontal area is what really matters. And the flat, rounded N126 ET has a noticeably smaller frontal area than its taller, boxier rivals. Even the lighter Micro 240 can't compete there. That should show up as a plus at the charging point.

Verdict: Who is the Niewiadow N126 ET for?

The N126 ET is the mini caravan for couples and solo travelers who like things simple and fit — height-wise — into its fairly short, narrow bed. It's light, flat, towable with any Class B license, and fits behind almost any EV. Its built-in toilet saves you the nighttime trek across the campsite.

If you want a shower, plenty of cold storage, or off-grid 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.