Omoda has announced what could be the fastest update to a car yet, confirming that refreshed versions of its 5 and E5 SUVs have been launched following critical media reviews.

The changes come less than a year after the two models arrived in the UK as part of the brand's market launch here. The updates include technical improvements, higher perceived material quality and revisions to the cars' handling and overall driving refinement.

For both cars, Chery-owned Omoda has upgraded the front suspension and revised the steering geometry to “provide a more dynamic proposition to drivers”.

This follows Autocar’s road test of the 5, which noted a “poor ride and handling balance” with body control that has “a fundamental lack of cohesiveness” and is “so ill-matched to the steering’s rate of response it makes for a tiring driving experience”.

Meanwhile, new front wheel hubs and bearings have been added and brake linings have been refreshed. This follows criticism of the cars' “vicious pitch and shimmying under hard braking”.

Inside, both models now sport the same interior to bring more parity to the range and give the combustion car better cabin quality with softer materials. Omoda previously told Autocar the EV’s cabin was “half a generation” ahead of the 5 and our test noted that the E5 felt “quite a bit more plush”.

The brand has also added larger, 12.25in screens, which have been angled towards the driver for better visibility when driving.

In addition, there is a revised steering wheel design and new seats, with more adjustment, across the range. The gear selector and wireless charging pad have been repositioned to make them easier to access on the move.

At the car's rear, Omoda has removed the full-size spare tyre in a bid to boost boot space from 372 litres to 430 litres. Previously, our road test noted the boot size was “poor”. The increase moves it closer to the 504 litres offered by its Nissan Qashqai rival.

Under the skin, the 5’s 1.6-litre petrol engine has been detuned from 187bhp to 145bhp, which, the brand says, is in an effort to reduce its emissions output and therefore its tax bracket.

Meanwhile, the E5’s 61kWh CATL-sourced battery pack has been improved to offer 267 miles of range, up 12 miles. Its charging rates have also been increased to 130kW via a DC and 10.3kW via AC. The top Noble trim also gets a heat pump.

Pricing for the 5 range starts at £23,990 for the base-level Knight trim and rises to £27,490 for a Noble-spec 5. The E5 is priced from £33,065 and tops out at £34,565.