Many people would say there’s nothing you need to do to a Toyota Prado to make it better. But Toyota has gone and raised the bar anyhow with its iconic off-roader, making it more capable, better on-road, and a lot easier to drive safely.

Dubbed the fourth generation, the latest Prado sees strong styling changes all round, while a multitude of electronic features – some not seen before – assist the driver to safely get across the toughest terrain without the need for years of experience and training.

The new Prado rides on the same wheelbase as before, but the bodywork is 45 mm longer in the front and rear overhangs, although the approach angle remains the same at 32 degrees. It is offered in three grade levels, a GX, a mid range VX and the range topping VX Limited.

The bodywork is redesigned and now sees a much higher window line and redesigned lights and grille, while under the skin the full frame structure has been redone and the suspension widened and modified to incorporate the Aussie designed KDSS system first shown in the Land Cruiser 200.

This automatically disconnects the antiroll bars in extreme off-road situations to give superb articulation and thus better traction, and the Prado version is even better.

There’s also air suspension at the rear with electronic control to iron out small bumps at low speeds.

At the same time an off-road package is available – extra cost on the VX model but incorporated into the price of the Limited – which sees a new management system which allows the driver to select settings according to conditions, as well as offering a new crawl mode in which the driver takes his foot off the accelerator and allows the vehicle to take over, especially useful in rocky conditions. This operates at between 1 and 5 km/h.

And the top models also get no fewer than four cameras – one facing forwards, two to the side, and one to the rear – to make life even easier for the driver, especially off-road.

I was particularly taken by the centre front one which gives a wide angle view at the front so if you stick your nose out of your driveway you can see what’s happening outside your view – or when cresting a rise where the big bonnet allows a view of nothing but sky, you can see over the hump and which way the road goes!

The two side cameras allow a great view of where the front wheels are placed, while the rear one is linked to a high resolution reversing camera.

The multi-terrain system allows the driver to select from four modes – Mud/Sand (available in high or low ratio), Loose Rock (only in low) Mogul (for cross-axle situations) and Rock.

The ABS is also tweaked to allow better control off-road, allowing some lockup in sand or snow so a wedge can form under the tyres and slow down the vehicle better in these conditions.

There’s also a rear diff lock.

If the off-road package is not specified the Limited has a parking assist function as well as a pre-crash safety system with dynamic radar cruise control.

These systems use a radar sensor at the front of the vehicle to track the relative speed, distance and angle to objects ahead.

The pre-crash safety system alerts the driver if a collision is likely, and then reacts by retracting the front seatbelts and arming the pre-crash brake assist system to improve braking performance.

In an extreme situation, it can also apply the brakes even if the driver has not touched the brake pedal.

The radar also helps the driver maintain an appropriate distance from the vehicle in front when cruise control is on, without having to constantly adjust speed - particularly useful on highways.

It automatically slows the vehicle to maintain the desired distance from another vehicle and automatically accelerate back to the set cruise control speed when the road ahead is clear.

Safety is in fact a high level on this vehicle, and there are no fewer than 11 airbags in total.

All models have Toyota’s 3-litre 1KD common-rail diesel engine with variable vane turbo charger, producing 127 kW at 3400 rpm 3400 rpm and 410 Nm of torque between 1600-2800 rpm.

They also get full-time 4WD, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Active Traction Control, Hill-start Assist and Downhill Assist Control (automatic transmission vehicles only), smart entry and start system, second row seatbelt anchorage height adjusters, 3.5mm and USB audio input jacks, Bluetooth hands free phone capability, reversing camera, parking sensors, engine immobiliser and alarm system and a rear spoiler.

The entry level GX model has 17 inch alloy wheels, a rear door mounted spare wheel with hard cover, reverse parking sensors, leather steering wheel, dual zone air conditioning, and a single disc MP3/WMA compatible CD player.

The VX adds 18 inch alloy wheels, under floor mounted spare wheel, KDSS, electro-chromatic inside rear view mirror, front and side view cameras, front parking sensors, HID headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), headlight cleaners, three zone climate control air conditioning, six disc CD changer with nine speakers, front seat heaters, leather seats, power adjustable front seats, Optitron instruments with steering angle display, power adjustable tilt and telescopic steering column, front fog lights, glass hatch in rear door, roof rails, and rear privacy glass.

In addition the top-of-the-range VX Limited gets the variable suspension system and rear active height control, pre-crash safety system, dynamic radar cruise control, leather and wood grain style steering wheel, six disc CD/DVD changer with 14 speakers, satellite navigation system, cool box, front seat memory system, wood grain style console, rear seat entertainment system with 228 mm screen, and a tilt and slide sunroof.

RRP for the GX manual is $78,490 with $1,500 added for automatic transmission. The VX model is $89,900 with the top-of-the-range VX Limited model priced at $104,990. The off-road package is $2,250 for the VX and a no-cost option for VX Limited.