2014 brought the first major redesign of the Kia Soul, but the South Korean automaker treaded carefully and didn't meddle with the car's styling too much. A wise decision, if you ask me. Not only because I like the Soul's unique design, but it also didn't make sense for Kia to change one of its best-selling models drastically. Sure, I don't expect all of you to rave about its boxy styling, but the new Soul->ke2186 is quite rewarding when it comes to cargo and interior room, all backed by a comprehensive engine lineup. And it's highly customizable too for a vehicle in its segment. Which brings me to the latest Soul-related news I want to share with you; the compact just received a couple of new models. These models carry the Mixx and Maxx names and come as high-specification versions of the familiar hatch.

The bad news is that Kia will only sell them in the United Kingdom, with no U.S. availability on the horizon. Still, this is further proof of what Kia->ke41 is capable of nowadays and we can only hope the Soul range will soon grow in North America as well. Meanwhile, let's have a look at what the Brits have in their showrooms as of September 2014.

Click past the jump to read more about the Kia Soul Mixx And Maxx.

Kia Soul Mixx And Maxx in detail

The Soul Mixx and Maxx models stand out from the crowd thanks to their 18-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and Kia's urban styling pack. The bundle is an important part of the deal, as it adds front, side and rear skirts, as well as wheel-arch cladding. The latter widens the car by 31 mm (1.2 inches), giving it a sportier appearance. Adding to the vehicle's premium yet playful feel are the contrasting-color roof and door mirrors, gloss-black bumpers, chrome door handles, and tinted windows.

Inside, Kia offers heated front seats, leather upholstery, automatic air-conditioning, eight-inch touchscreen satellite navigation, and a premium Infinity sound system. A reversing camera is also part of the deal. All the aforementioned features come with both the Mixx and Maxx trims, but the latter also benefits from a smart-key entry system, engine stop-start button, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front and rear parking sensors, and a panoramic sunroof.

As far as engines go, both models are available with either the 1.6-liter gasoline or the 1.6-liter diesel engine. The former generates 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque, while the latter cranks out 126 ponies and 192 pound-feet. While the oil-burning mill is available with both six-speed manual or automatic transmissions in the Mixx trim, the gasoline drivetrain only includes a manual gearbox. The Soul Mixx retails from £18,150 ($29,542 as of 09/16/2014), while the Soul Maxx fetches at least £19,950 ($32,472).