Body like a car, entry through the tailgate: This Chinese caravan does a lot differently

At Caravan Salon 2026, there was a caravan in Hall 11 that made me look twice. Tailgate open, pop-up roof extended, and a pulled-out stainless steel kitchen on the side. This is the Aquila 360 from LIDU. The brand comes from China and, as far as I remember, this wasn't its first time in Düsseldorf. What's new this year, though, is the entire interior. I took a closer look at this compact caravan.

Who's behind LIDU?

LIDU RV belongs to Zybody Automotive. The parent company has been a supplier to major car manufacturers for over 20 years. You can tell with the Aquila: LIDU assembles the cabin from steel and aluminum sheets, just like in car manufacturing, and according to the manufacturer, 80 percent of it is aluminum. LIDU developed the chassis itself. It's hot-formed and high-strength, which is another process borrowed from car manufacturing.

A green sticker inside says it plainly: "Designed by Europe, Made in China." A European design studio created the new interior. The show vehicle was white and anthracite, with a copper-colored stripe. If you like it more colorful: according to the spec sheet, the Aquila also comes in Lemon Yellow, Cherry Red, or Raspberry Pink.

The dimensions

The Aquila 360 is 523.5 cm long, 219 cm wide, and 224.5 cm tall. With the roof extended, it grows to 274.5 cm.

According to the spec sheet at the booth, it weighs 1,200 kg empty, while the LIDU website states 1,230 kg. Neither the spec sheet nor the website mentioned the permissible gross weight. So despite the aluminum, the Aquila isn't exactly a lightweight. Check your car's registration document for the permitted towing capacity – and do it before you fall in love...

Entry through the tailgate

You literally enter the Aquila through the back door. The tailgate swings up electrically and then hovers above you like a small awning. Below, a platform folds down. On the spec sheet, this is called "Electric tailgate and lovers seats." I'll translate that as: "Tailgate up, sit on the edge together, coffee in hand, gaze lovingly."

How practical is this in everyday use? In the rain, I imagine getting in and out is more awkward than through a regular door. In sunshine, though, the open tailgate is great, since indoors and outdoors almost blend into one. Privacy, similar to the Karoo, might fall a bit short. Because the moment the "door" is open, everyone can see straight to your breakfast table.

The pop-up roof

The roof rises electrically. Windows are built into the fabric walls, and an LED strip along the roof edge lights up the canvas. There's also a roof vent that works in both directions.

According to LIDU, the roof provides standing height and an extra sleeping spot. Overall, the Aquila is designed for two to three people.

© CamperStyle

Living and sleeping

At the front, there's a large U-shaped seating area with a pedestal table. In the evening, you convert it into a double bed measuring 160 x 200 cm. Towards the rear, the kitchen unit faces a cabinet with drawers.

And then there's the options list. Even the awning is on it, along with a scent system. "Smart Aromatherapy System" is what the spec sheet calls it. If that's your thing.

The walls are covered in light gray felt. The seat cushions are light-colored, the backrests are ochre, and the cabinet fronts have a dark wood tone. Add to that indirect lighting on the ceiling and floor. It all feels very cozy, even though the interior shell is made of injection-molded ABS plastic and the furniture is aluminum, according to the spec sheet. The felt does a lot of the work here.

© CamperStyle

When it comes to tech, LIDU really delivers. A 13-inch display handles the controls, and a HiFi system with subwoofer takes care of the music. For privacy, there's electrochromic glass: at the push of a button, it turns opaque so no one can see in. A 360-degree camera, a smoke detector, and a 2 kg fire extinguisher are also on board.

The kitchen: induction inside, diesel outside

Inside, you cook on an induction hob. There's also a stainless steel sink with a folding lid and a 50-liter fridge.

The show vehicle had an outdoor slide-out kitchen, very typical for Chinese camping vehicles. It slides out on rails from a side locker, and the diesel cooker has 4.5 kW with its own control panel and display. I like solutions like this because smells and grease splatter stay outside. Whether the outdoor kitchen is already included in the price is questionable, though. More on that in a moment.

Gas doesn't appear anywhere on the equipment list. You cook with electricity or diesel, and the heating also runs on diesel.

© CamperStyle

Bathroom and water

The Aquila doesn't have a bathroom. There's a portable toilet on board. For showering, a shower head and an outdoor shower tent are available for an extra charge.

The fresh water tank holds 31 liters, the waste water tank 23 liters. That's completely sufficient for campsite stays and matches the standard you'd find in "normal" caravans.

Power and heating

The LiFePO4 battery has 314 Ah at 12 volts, which works out to roughly 4 kWh. A charger with an inverter (3,000 watts) converts that to 230 volts. That means you can cook on induction even without a mains hookup. How long depends on your power consumption.

The heater is a 2 kW diesel air heater. LIDU installs the high-altitude version, designed for trips in the mountains.

For an extra charge, you can get 360-watt solar panels with a 40-A charge controller, a second 314 Ah battery, and a Dometic air conditioning unit.

Chassis and storage

Underneath the body, LIDU relies on well-known technology: the rubber suspension axle and the overrun brake system come from AL-KO, and an anti-snaking coupling is available as an option. The Aquila rolls on alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tires — a size you'll know from compact cars. Electric stabilizer legs sit at each corner, and there's a 300-liter storage box at the front. Plenty of room for camping gear in there.

How much does the LIDU Aquila 360 cost?

At the booth there was a handwritten price tag: 38,000 euros. The spec sheet next to it splits the equipment into "Selected" and "Not Selected." As I read it, anything with a filled-in dot is included in the price. Everything else costs extra. It doesn't quite add up cleanly, though, since the show vehicle had the diesel outdoor kitchen installed even though it's marked as "Not Selected."

My tip: get a written equipment list with the price before you buy.

© CamperStyle

What to watch out for when buying

LIDU is still fairly new here in Germany. Starlight from the Netherlands handles the import, and the company is only just building up a dealer network. So clarify these points before you buy:

• COC certificate: LIDU states that the Aquila has EU type approval. Ask to see the document, otherwise registration will be a hassle.

• Service and spare parts: Who repairs the pop-up roof, the tailgate, or the switchable glass if something gets stuck? And how long does it take to get parts?

• Weight: Ask about the permitted gross weight and the payload.

Technical specs at a glance

My verdict: who is the Aquila 360 right for?

The Aquila 360 isn't a caravan for families with two kids, or for travelers who want a fully equipped camper with a "proper" toilet and maybe even a shower.

It suits couples who like heading out often for short trips, appreciate good design, and have a tow vehicle with enough towing capacity. Tech fans will find plenty to "play" with here: the pop-up roof, electric tailgate, switchable glass, and a large lithium battery.

I find the approach exciting. Here you've got an automotive industry supplier building a caravan, and you can see that in a lot of the details. Nobody can say today how well all that electronics will still work after a few years on gravel pitches. It's also still unclear when you'll be able to check out the Aquila at a dealer near you.

What's your take: are Chinese vehicle manufacturers slowly catching up with the European competition? Or do they not need to worry just yet?