The Ford Ranger is the best-selling pick-up in the UK. That’s a stat that I often have a tough time reconciling with what I see rumbling around on our streets but, there you go, a stat it is.

Some of that success is undoubtedly thanks to its big brother, the F-150, which just happens to be the best-selling car in the world. Yes, you read that right. It’s big, really big, good value and imposing and, though smaller and more suitable for European roads, the Ranger shares some of that DNA.

There is even a performance version of the Ranger now – not by accident called the Raptor – but rather than the 3.5-litre V6 that powers its namesake there’s a revised version of the firm’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine under the bonnet. The same engine, incidentally, that’s powering the car reviewed here.

My review car arrived in Double Cab Limited trim with four proper doors and seating for five. If it’s a real workhorse you’re after the two-seat regular cab or four-seat Super Cab might be more to your liking.

Climb up into the cabin and slide into the comfortable eight-way electrically-adjustable seats – even the entry-level models have six-way seats with lumbar support, although you don’t get electrical assistance with the adjustments – and you’re greeted with a typically lofty driving position that offers a commanding view over the road. Forward visibility is particularly good thanks to thin A-pillars but the small rear windscreen and long load bed means that the view out the back is quite severely restricted.

Rear parking sensors are a dealer-fitted option on basic models and you would be wise to tick that particular box while the Limited trim tested here includes a very welcome rear-view camera. There’s no option to add LED headlights on the Ranger, instead higher-level trims are equipped with bi-xenon units.

Ford have attempted to create a cabin that straddles the line between working vehicle and family SUV so there’s leather trim on the seats, steering wheel and gear selector. However, there are enough harder plastics to serve as a reminder of the Ranger’s working class origins.

Limited trim and above are fitted with an eight-inch touchscreen running Ford’s Sync 3 software that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring but only Wildtrak and Raptor models get factory-fitted sat nav as standard.

Entry-level XL Rangers make do with a simple monochrome infotainment screen but they do, at least, get Bluetooth and DAB radio as standard, while XLT models are fitted with the eight-inch Sync infotainment system.

The Sync 3 system is a doddle to use and the smartphone mirroring, from am Android-user’s perspective, always works flawlessly. The visuals are attractive and the display crisp and bright.

The Double Cab Ranger tested here can comfortably accommodate four adults – five if the three sharing the rear bench don’t object to a little shoulder-rubbing – thanks to a cabin the offers lots of head and leg room both in the front and back.

It isn’t without compromise, of course, because the more room that’s given over to passengers the less that’s available for the load bay but, even in Double Cab specification the Ranger has room to fit a standard pallet in the back.

Maximum towing capacity for most of the Ranger line-up is 3,500kg, although that falls to 2,500kg for some models, which is right up there with the very best.

The 170hp diesel supplying power to my review car is a little noisy on start-up but when you’re simply cruising around it fades away to little more than a distant grumble. It isn’t quite as refined as, say, an Amarok, but it’s still possible to hold a conversation without the need for raised voices. The engine possesses plenty of grunt from low down in the rev range and is comfortable ambling along at motorway speeds.

The 10-speed automatic gearbox isn’t the smoothest or the most intuitive out there, and it can be a little hesitant to swap ratios when you need to pick up the pace quickly but, for the most part, it does its job without giving the driver any pause for thought, which is precisely what an automatic gearbox should do.

The ride is pretty much what you would expect from a pick-up. It will bounce around over even the smallest imperfections, becoming more pronounced as the road surface deteriorates. It does make a decent fist of dampening the shock of the bumps, however, so while it isn’t the most cosseting of rides it does provide passengers with a decent degree of isolation and comfort.

The Ranger does possess decent handling for a pick-up. It’s unlikely that many people will be trying to throw it through a series of flowing but, if you are one of the few, you will be rewarded with a decent level of grip on turn-in, precise, nicely-weighted steering and a body that does a commendable job of resisting body roll.

Most models come with four-wheel drive and the ability to lock the differentials or engage hill descent control if conditions become particularly unforgiving. On the road it’s usually better to stick with two-wheel drive as it not only improves efficiency but also handling.

The Ranger is, first and foremost, a commercial vehicle which makes it reasonably affordable if you’re running it as a company car. It’s worth noting, however, that the Raptor’s reduced payload means that it isn’t eligible for the flat commercial vehicle company car tax rate but is does still qualify for the flat rate of annual commercial vehicle road tax.

Living with the Ranger is relatively straightforward. While the engine is a little noisy, it has plenty of grunt and works well in unison with the 10-speed automatic gearbox. The Double Cab reviewed here in Limited trim is comfortable and spacious and the Sync3 infotainment system is very simple to use.

Where the Ranger really does shine is its ride and handling which, while neither are likely to feature high on buyers’ lists, are impressive for a pick-up but, if that is something that’s important to you, then the Ford may well be the car for you.

Ranger Limited 2.0-litre EcoBlue 10 Speed Automatic Double Cab

Price: £35,764

As tested: £37,984

Engine: 2.0-litre EcoBlue four-cylinder diesel

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Max power: 170PS

Max torque: 470Nm

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 11.4sec

Urban: 36.7mpg

Extra urban: 37.7mpg

Emissions (CO2): 197g/km

For more information visit www.ford.co.uk