I’ll be upfront: I’ve never driven a Ranger I didn’t like. Not once. So perhaps take this review with the appropriate pinch of salt... but the PHEV version of Ford’s ever-capable pickup has done absolutely nothing to change that winning streak.

This is the Ranger in StormTrak spec; a name that sits nicely alongside the old Wildtrak in Ford’s pantheon of outdoorsy trim names, and is finished in a pale blue-grey that suits it beautifully.

It’s a plug-in hybrid, which means you get a 2.3 EcoBoost petrol engine supplemented by an electric motor, and crucially, you can choose how you use it: electric now, save electric for later, or even charge the battery as you drive. That last option is an interesting one for a PHEV, and it gives the whole package a flexibility that pure electrics and conventional hybrids can’t quite match.

The electric range is modest, only around 25 miles at a full charge, so it’s never going to replace the petrol entirely. But that’s not really the point. The point is that it can supplement fuel economy meaningfully on longer runs, and potentially reduce pollution in traffic-ridden areas. For a vehicle that straddles commercial and personal use, that’s quietly significant.

Everything is where you expect it

Inside, it feels like a Ford. That’s not faint praise; it means everything is where you expect it, everything works as it should, and there’s no learning curve to contend with. The central touchscreen is clean and well laid out, the instrument cluster packs in speed, gear, fuel, charge, audio and temperature without feeling cramped, and the octagonal air vents add a satisfyingly rugged, tactile quality that suits the brief perfectly.

There’s a leather steering wheel with nice stitching, Alcantara seat trim, heated seats and a heated steering wheel – always a winner for me. Storage is everywhere, including a useful shelf in front of the passenger and a couple of spots for the driver to stash the odds and ends of daily life.

On the road, it’s composed, quiet – genuinely impressively so – and easy to place despite its size. Road noise is minimal, the 2.3 EcoBoost is smooth and unobtrusive, and when the electric motor kicks in to supplement it, the whole thing becomes almost uncannily hushed.

Cornering is better than it has any right to be, the seats offer decent support, and the big square wing mirrors give you excellent visibility. It also, pleasingly, remembers your preferences when you restart, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve driven something that doesn’t. The sliding rear arch-rack-thing also extends out to create a full roof load space which is a genuinely clever practical addition, too.

Is it the most exciting car I’ve driven? No. Is it exactly what it needs to be, done brilliantly? Absolutely. Still the benchmark.

Toby Aiken is a copywriter and marketer with more than 18 years' experience writing for many different topics. A self-proclaimed petrol head, he loves all things automotive, and keeps an ever-changing five-car dream garage in his head at all times. While that line-up will always include at least one EV, he is a die-hard fan of a V8.