The Ranger's 2.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine provides 141bhp, which is pretty good, but falls well short of the Nissan Navara. It's an eager performer nonetheless and feels quicker than the official performance figures suggest. A healthy 243lb ft of low-down shove helps when towing or if the load bay is full, but the gearshift is heavy. Top-of-the-range Double Cabs have a 3.0 TDCi but we'd stick with the smaller unit.

Like most pick-ups, the Ranger feels crude compared with modern lifestyle 4x4s. The suspension is tailored more towards carrying loads rather than giving passengers a comfortable ride and is often bouncy and unforgiving. The steering is ok and there's modest grip, but the Ranger isn't too unwieldy around town and off-road its switchable four-wheel drive and low-ratio transfer box come into their own.

By saloon car standards, the Ranger's diesel engine is hardly quiet, but it's one of the smoothest and most refined in a pick-up and isn't too intrusive at motorway speed. Road noise is well isolated, too, but the boxy shape kicks up a fair amount of wind noise.

In terms of metal for your money, the Ranger compares favourably to leisure 4x4 rivals. As with all pick-ups, it qualifies as a commercial vehicle, so if you buy it through your business you can claim back VAT and pay less company car tax than on a similarly-priced saloon. Don't be fooled into thinking that just because the engine runs on diesel it's frugal - you'll struggle to get 30mpg in real-world driving conditions.

At heart, the Ranger is a commercial vehicle, so it's built to withstand sustained hard use. We expect the mechanicals to prove robust and there's a minimum of electronic gadgetry to go wrong. The cabin is similarly no-nonsense in approach, but it's more civilised than some pick-ups and some of the trim wouldn't look too out of place in a family saloon.

There's no doubt that the Ranger's raised stance and sheer bulk make you feel invincible, but it falls short for safety kit. Entry-level models only have front airbags, while the top two trims add side airbags, but curtain airbags and stability control - which are available for rivals such as the Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi L200 - aren't available.

The Ranger's dash is straightforward and easy to use, but you can catch your knee on the handbrake, because it pulls out from the dash. The driving position is better than many pick-ups, despite the absence of height adjustment for the seat and a steering wheel that only moves up and down. Reversing sensors make parking easier for top-trim models.

Considering its overall size, the amount of space for rear seat passengers in the Ranger is poor. There's enough head- and legroom for two adults, but you sit uncomfortably low and three is a real squeeze. There's decent space for those in the front, however, and the Ranger's load bay is large, bettering even the Nissan Navara's for length and payload capacity.

Double-cab Ranger models all come reasonably well equipped. Entry-level trim includes remote central locking, four electric windows and a CD player, but air-conditioning is a £500 extra. Step up to XLT trim and air-conditioning is standard. You also gain alloy wheels, a CD changer, a leather-covered steering wheel and gearknob, and extra chrome trim. Thunder models add full leather upholstery, flashier exterior trim and reversing sensors.