IF you're the sort of person who thinks SUVs have gone somewhat soft and tend to favour style over substance then a pick-up could be just what you're looking for.
These go anywhere workhorses are certainly a suitable alternative and there's no shortage of them from which to choose.
Their proliferation probably has something to do with the fact that you used to be able to save a fortune in you opted to have one as your company car, due to it being classed as a commercial vehicle.
Stick a detachable cover on the back and you had something which resembled a standard SUV - well almost!
The Government cottoned on to the fact quite a lot of people were doing this and like all good loopholes it got closed. Even so, there are still savings to be made.
Pretty much all the current crop have an essential ruggedness that means they're not going to be matching the creature comforts of something like a Land Rover Discovery but on paper at least they do represent good value for money.
Refinement isn't their forte either but in all honesty it's perfectly easy to live with one as an everyday family motor.
In this respect the Nissan Navara is actually one of the best. It's certainly more refined than some of its rivals and you can switch between two and four-wheel-drive modes for everyday use.
A bonus is the fact that the two-wheel-drive mode utilises the rear rather than the front wheels, offering impressive handling capabilities in two-wheel mode.
In fact it's actually rather fun to drive and when that increasingly regular heavy snow comes you simply engage four-wheel-drive and sympathise with those people sliding around all over the place in their BMWs and Mercedes and forgive yourself for enjoying a slight sense of smug satisfaction.
The big downside with any pick-up is it sheer size and it has to be said the Navarra is pretty big.
However, given its bulk it feels almost strangely compact and is actually surprisingly easy to manoeuvre in most settings.
Its turning circle is a bit of a let down though, which combined with its huge size can be a problem at times. My abiding memory of it will be of trying to do a three-point-turn in a small cul-de-sac.
At a guess I'd say it involved 47 points and had I endeavoured to take my driving test in it I think I'd still be displaying those L plates.
On the inside the Navara is a bit commercial vehicle-like, but my Tekna test car was loaded up with enough extras to give it a bit more of a car-like feel. It even has such luxuries as heated leather seats.
A makeover for the Navara last year saw a whole host of design and engineering modifications, including a new bumper, bonnet and grille, more luxurious trim and a clearer dashboard display.
Both the 2.5 and 3.0-litre engines have also been given a power boost.