THE latest Ford Ranger improves on its award-winning predecessor by introducing more style and technology to an already great package.

The Ranger is a huge success for the Blue Oval badge in the UK and Europe thanks to its great looks and ability to get any job done.

This new model is bigger and bolder and can be bought in a large variety of styles and with a choice of engines and transmissions.

It now looks more like some of its USA big brothers but still combines the ability to shift and move heavy equipment with the comfort and equipment of an SUV.It also offers great towing capacity as well as the talent to go off-road and tackle the rough stuff.

This new model will still appeal to business and private users and thanks to its capacity has tax advantages.

It can wade through rivers, traverse rough terrain, slip through mud and snow with ease because the Ranger has the grunt to do it.

On regular roads this Wildtrak version behaves like most large SUVs and it cruises well at motorway speeds with decent ride and handling

The Wildtrak features large alloy wheels but my truck had even larger 20 inch machined black wheels costing £750 extra. It also had a powered roller shutter on the load box adding another £1,600.

The stylish new front and grille makes it look more muscular and it comes with power-foldable heated door mirrors with puddle lights, side steps, roof rails and rear privacy glass.

Inside the refreshed cabin offers more creature comforts and enough room for a family of five or four large workers and boasts equipment to satisfy leisure owners.

You get satellite navigation, Bluetooth with voice control, rear parking sensors, a new large central touchscreen with Ford SYNC 3 technology, a DAB radio, heated windscreen, and a large number of power sockets as well as heated electrically adjustable seats with leather trim and a leather stitched steering wheel.

At the touch of a button you can select between a choice of two or four-wheel-drives and low and high ratios.

Safety features include a raft of airbags, hill launch assist, hill descent control and an electronic stability programme with traction control and emergency brake assist. There is front and rear parking sensors and a rear view camera.

Other featuresinclude a lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, a collision mitigation system, intelligent speed assistance and cruise control.

This Wildtrak version came with the 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel power plant combined with an automaticten-speed gearbox. It punts out 205ps and gives the Ranger a top speed of 112mph and a 0-62mph time of 10.5 seconds.

It has a claimed combined WLTP figure of 32.1 mpg but that will depend on how hard you drive it and how heavy it is loaded. I managed more as I had a couple of long journeys.