Plates lined with Kevlar have been added to the bottom hull to provide better protection against improvised explosive devices.

There is a large round opening in the passenger compartment roof, which has a split/folding (concertina) hatch, and a (right hand) side-hinged door in the rear for loading and unloading.

An NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons) system is fitted, normal ventilation provided by a fan mounted in the forward right hand side of the vehicle, air being drawn through a paper element filter (mounted externally on the right hand side of the hull), filtered air being distributed by a duct running around the perimeter of the interior at roof level, extending into the driver's compartment.

Provision is made to add carbon filters in case of gas attack, and the system can accommodate heaters and/or air conditioning units.

Wading screens and a trim vane were fitted as standard and an extension provided to elevate the exhaust pipe.

The basic vehicle, which could be readied for wading in approximately five minutes, has a water speed of about 6 km/h when converted for swimming and was propelled by its tracks.

[citation needed] FV432s in service with infantry battalions are equipped with a pintle-mounted L7 GPMG if not fitted with the Peak Engineering turret.

[citation needed] The Australian Army evaluated two pre-production FV432s during 1962 and 1963, but decided to purchase M113 armoured personnel carriers instead.

[citation needed] The FV432 has proven to be flexible in use and can be converted from one role to another with reasonable ease using 'installation kits' (IK), or more permanently with minor modifications to the hull.