Ford Ranger 2017 review: It's a big, bulky pick-up truck but it's just as happy on the school run as

KIDS these days, they have it so good. I’m not even talking about Xboxes, inflated pocket money or trips to Euro Disney.

They have it so good because they can legitimately be driven around in a truck.

I would have killed to be dropped off at school in something which spends the rest of the day on a building site.

But pick-up trucks just weren’t there yet.

These days wagons like the Ford Ranger are as happy in Tesco as Travis Perkins.

Manufacturers have struck the perfect balance between load lugger and family wagon.

Key facts: FORD RANGER DOUBLE CAB 3.2 TDCi

Price: £31,254

Engine: 3.2 litre diesel turbo

Economy: 31.7mpg

0-62mph: 10.6 seconds

Top speed: 109mph

Length: 5.3 metres

CO2: 234g/km

Bigger cabs, more effort on the interior, sweeter engine refinement – that’s all it took.

The Ranger hasn’t abandoned its hard-as-nails credentials though, it’s now a question of making the right choice for what you demand from it.

First, option one of four trim levels. There’s XL and XLT for those who don’t need bells and whistles, and Limited and Wildtrack for those who need a “lifestyle” vehicle.

Then choose your cab size – single cab, super cab or double cab, which turns the Ranger into a comfy five-person vehicle.

Finally, choose between the 2.2 litre diesel, or a punchier 3.2 litre which knocks out nearly 200bhp and has enough torque to drag Theresa May out of No10 (470Nm).

I drove the 3.2 litre limited spec, which felt as comfy and well kitted as any SUV.

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The engine is smooth until you have to drop the hammer, but the bellow of a diesel lump isn’t out of place on a pick-up.

A pick-up is never going to handle as well as a car, but steering is light and it feels sturdy at high speeds.

Twenty years ago I’d have felt a fraud driving a Ranger – it takes me two days to assemble an Ikea sideboard.

But these days there’s a Ford Ranger for everyone.

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