What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

Ford's robust, handsome-looking and well-designed Ranger is in many respects the ideal pick-up for farmers, builders, landscape gardeners or for somebody who simply needs to tow a horsebox at the weekend. The winner in its category for 2015, one of Ranger's big plus-points is the breadth and depth of the range; something the majority of its competitors struggle to match.

You can specify it as a 4x2 or a 4x4 - four-wheel-drive is selectable - with a two-door two-seater Regular Cab, a four-door five-seater Double Cab or with what Ford refers to as a Super Cab.

It features forward-hinged front doors and small, rear-hinged back doors. The idea is to provide completely-unobstructed access to the cab's sides thanks to the absence of a B-pillar.

It's not a new arrangement - it first appeared on Rangers a dozen or so years ago - but is none the worse for that.

If that's not enough choice for you then it is worth noting that Ranger is marketed with four different specification levels - XL, XLT, Limited and Wildtrak - and with either a manual or an automatic gearbox.

If all you need to do is chug round rural roads with the occasional sprint down a dual carriageway then either the 125hp or the 150hp version of the 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel that is fitted should be more than sufficient to meet your needs. If you tackle long-distances runs regularly however - if you are a frequent exhibitor at county fairs around the country for instance - and have to tow a heavy exhibition trailer then you may wish to consider the mighty 3.2-litre 200hp Duratorq TDCi instead.

For a comparatively big, heavy pick-up Ranger handles remarkably well, with none of the lurching or wallowing that used to bedevil vehicles like it in the past if you tried to take them into a bend at anything much above walking pace. A slick gear change helps the driver get the best out of the engine and the suspension seems capable of coping with most of what is likely to be thrown at it by Britain's Third World road surfaces.

Opt for the 4x4 and you will quickly discover that sloppy, rutted farm tracks hold few if any terrors for it. Nor do rural streams - the wading depth is surprisingly generous - and the amount of ground clearance and suspension articulation means you can cope with decent-sized boulders and ruts without grounding.

If you do wallop the underside then there is at least the consolation that Ranger is well-protected against under-floor damage. The fuel tank sits higher than the chassis frame and is shielded, the engine and radiator are shielded too and the transfer case and oil pan are protected by beefy cross-members.