I RECENTLY attended a huge farming machinery sales event, where thousands of farmers pored over the finer points of combine harvesters, grain feeders, tractors and the like.

Many of these machines were indeed mightily impressive, with price tags up to half a million pounds, but it was none of these that caught my eye.

I was more interested in the vehicles being driven by visitors into the parking lot.

As you might expect, there were Land Rover models galore. But there were even more pick-ups.

This type of vehicle has seen extraordinary growth, with Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Ford dominating the market and with other big players joining the party.

Combining a nature of robustness with a carrying capacity unmatched when you need to shift big, awkward objects, they are not only workhorses but also the transport of choice for a growing fan club of those who see them as a work/leisure alternative to the conventional.

Toyota’s Hilux is one of the original players. It was launched nearly 50 years ago and more than 18 million have been sold.

Globally, it is something of a legend. Not only will you find it on a building site, but you'll also find it in some of the most inhospitable places.

For many people the Hilux is more than just a vehicle; it enables them to reach the next village a few hundred miles away, transport valuable supplies and ensure that they don't get stranded in the middle of nowhere.

And it's this last quality that has afforded the Hilux such a wide fanbase. Toyota is synonymous with reliability and durability, and the chunky all-rounder is reliability and durability personified.

With all this talk, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Hilux is a dull, characterless tool. Not so. It boasts rounded corners, high levels of refinement and SUV-like responsiveness.

Buyers now understandably expect high levels of comfort and refinement from their working vehicles. The Hilux offers a mix of rounded, SUV-like exterior looks and a car-like ambience for occupants. This softer appearance is carried over inside the Hilux’s cabin, with the pick-up’s fascia containing a colour touchscreen plus satellite navigation, Bluetooth and USB connectivity.

But let’s not forget the real reason you’ll find yourself driving a Hilux: it’s a tough, capable workhorse. Crucially, access to the rear deck is straightforward and there’s no shortage of space for even the most unusual of cargo.

Safe, economical, reliable and good value, the Double Cab successfully bridges the gap if you want to combine utility and all-round usability in one attractive package.

The latest version, packed with home comforts in higher specification models such as the tested top-of-the-range Invincible, proves itself to be not only a tremendously capable vehicle but also by no means a disappointing drive.

In fact it’s a very enjoyable ride, thanks to its new 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine. Although this unit is smaller than the 3.0-litre engine it replaced, it produces significantly more torque – up from 343 to 400Nm.

It even comes with a sport mode for an extra slug of acceleration, and will achieve about 36mpg fuel economy.

Longer, wider and lower than the previous generation, it also has an increased towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and locking rear differential to improve traction in tricky conditions.

Another clever piece of technology in its arsenal is trailer sway control, a stability control system that adjust brake and throttle to suppress trailer sway in difficult conditions, such as high crosswinds.

As an all-rounder, the Hilux remains a top choice. Just steer clear of multi-storey car parks.