The Discovery 3 is one of Auto Trader’s favourite off-road vehicles, thanks to its no-nonsense styling, seven-seat practicality and go-anywhere ability.

This year it’s being replaced by the heavily-facelifted Discovery 4, with changes not just to the way it looks; but also to the way it drives.

Senior web journalist Andy Goodwin headed to Scotland to find out if the Disco really has got a lot better.

The first thing you notice about the Discovery 4 is its looks from the outside, which have taken a step up in class.

The bold shapes of the Discovery 3 remain – the slab-like bonnet and chiselled sides – but the detailing has been improved.

Its new honeycomb grille, side vents and re-mastered headlights are mobile pieces of sculpture.

We’re not too sure about the LED daytime running lights though – which wrap down and around the main light pod in a tadpole-like shape – as they could be too ‘try-hard’ for a Land Rover.

Sit in the commanding drivers’ seat and you’ll notice the completely reworked interior. Now, instead of a vertical, dark dashboard which was more ‘functional’ than ‘beautiful’, there’s a softly finished sloping dash that flows into the centre console and gear selector.

Interior quality really is impressive, with use of wood and polished metal trim which wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury saloon or sports car.

All-new engine ups the pace

On the road a brand new engine is the biggest improvement yet, giving the Discovery 4 extra pace and efficiency.

The 3-litre, sequentially turbocharged V6 diesel is the same motor from the latest Jaguar XF, tuned for use in a big mud-plugger.

It produces 242bhp and a whacking 443lb/ft of pulling power, and has the ability to accelerate the Discovery 4 from 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds – 18 per cent quicker than the outgoing 2.7-litre Discovery 3.

Land Rover also claims it will return 30.4mpg on the combined cycle, an improvement of almost ten per cent in fuel efficiency.

Driving normally it allows you to lope along quietly, with smooth shifts from the six-speed automatic gearbox.

Demand more power and the engine stays respectably smooth and strong, even at higher revs.

More composed handling

The other big news under the skin is a raft of improvements to the suspension, which result in the new model cornering more flatly and steering more precisely than before.

While it still isn’t a sports-saloon-wannabe like the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne, it’s a significant improvement and the Discovery 4 handles very well indeed for a heavy car with massive off-road ability and chunky tyres.

Head off the tarmac, as we did today, and there are some new gadgets to help get the most from the Land Rover Discovery.

Land Rover’s award-winning Terrain Response interface now allows you to choose even more intuitive settings for situations including: general driving, grass/gravel/snow, sand, mud and ruts and rock crawl.

Watch your every move

There are also five cameras dotted around the car can be displayed on the central screen, so you know exactly where to place the vehicle during that crucial bridge crossing, or just parking in a tight spot down at the supermaket.

They are positioned at the front left and right of the bumper, under both door mirrors and in the rear bumper. Pictures from them can be viewed regardless of vehicle speed or direction.

As well as being very useful they are also sure to impress kids and adults alike, and James Bond should definitely have them fitted to his next car.

Cool gadgets aside, is the Discovery 4 a compelling package? We rated its predecessor highly, and this model subtly improves on it in all the key areas.

We love its updated looks and improved handling, but the biggest thumbs up goes to the smooth and powerful new engine.

Key facts

Model tested: Land Rover Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE
On the road price: £47,695
Date tested: August 12 2009
Road tester: Andy Goodwin