FIRST seen earlier this year at the Paris Motor Show the latest Kia Soul crossover and Carens compact MPV have gone on sale.

Both feature upgraded exterior and interior styling, improved standard equipment and state-of-the-art connectivity systems.

The revamped Soul range is now headed by a 201bhp Sport performance model, while several versions consume less fuel and emit lower CO2 emissions.

The Soul Sport is an all-new version powered by a 201bhp 1.6-litre T-GDi turbocharged engine driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and has a stand-out appearance, with red highlights above a skid plate beneath the front bumper and along the sides, a rear bumper with diffuser trim and twin exhaust tailpipes, xenon headlights and exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Soul line-up now consists of grades 1, 2, 3 and Sport and prices start at £13,995 with the Sport version costing £23,250.

For mainstream models, there are 1.6-litre GDi petrol and CRDi turbodiesel engines.

The new Carens is Kia's five-door, seven-seat, front-wheel-drive compact MPV and comes in 1, 2, 3 and 4 specs and the new model features new front and rear bumpers, new front grilles, new front fog lights on all but the entry-level version and new rear combination lamps.

The Carens is available with a choice of three direct-injection engines - one petrol and two turbodiesels.

The petrol engine is a 1.6-litre 133bhp GDi direct-injection unit with a claimed fuel economy of 45.6mpg.

Diesels are either 114bhp or 134bhp and the claimed fuel consumption is 67.2mpg. The figure for the more powerful option is 62.8mpg. The more powerful engine is also available with a seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox.

Prices of the entry level Carens is £18,995.