2026 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL: Lakeland Buyers Guide

What $2,540 buys over the SE

The jump from SE to SEL is entirely about comfort and convenience, not power or safety, both trims share the identical 277-horsepower turbo engine and full SmartSense suite. What changes: H-Tex leatherette replaces the SE's cloth, the front seats gain heat for the handful of genuinely cold Central Florida mornings each winter, the driver's seat goes to 8-way power adjustment, and roof rails come standard for anyone hauling kayaks or a rooftop cargo box. Hyundai Digital Key 2 Premium lets a phone (or a second driver's phone, shared digitally) function as the key, side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators add a visibility margin in merge-heavy I-4 traffic, and wireless device charging and third-row USB ports round out a trim built for a family that actually lives in the third row on longer trips, not just uses it in a pinch.

Powertrain and towing figures carry over unchanged from the SE: 277 hp, 311 lb-ft, the new conventional 8-speed automatic, and 3,500 pounds of towing capacity with trailer brakes. HTRAC all-wheel drive remains a roughly $1,800 option rather than standard, matching every trim below the AWD-only XRT.

A trim families come back for

Repeat customers show up often enough in this dealership's Santa Fe reviews to be worth mentioning. "We have purchased 3 vehicles from Lakeland Automall and because of this kind of customer service we will buy there again," wrote Lou D. after a Santa Fe service visit, a sentiment echoed in a purchase review from Renee A.: "Thanks again for helping us meet all of our criteria and requirements in purchasing our 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 2.4," she wrote, crediting salesperson Carlton Gregory among the team that helped close the deal. Carlton Gregory is a current Pre-Owned Sales specialist at Lakeland Automall; that particular purchase predates the 2026 redesign, but the SEL's comfort-forward positioning in the lineup hasn't changed generation to generation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SEL worth the upcharge over the SE?

For most buyers, yes, roughly $2,540 for heated leatherette seats, an 8-way power driver's seat, roof rails, and wireless charging is a reasonable trade for daily comfort items a family notices every time they get in the car. Anyone prioritizing the lowest sticker price and comfortable with cloth seats can skip straight to the SE without losing engine performance or safety equipment.

Does the SEL come with all-wheel drive?

Not standard. HTRAC AWD is a roughly $1,800 option on the SEL, the same as on the SE and Limited. Only the XRT ships AWD as standard equipment.

What's the difference between H-Tex and real leather?

H-Tex is Hyundai's leatherette, a synthetic material that looks and wears like leather without the higher cost or upkeep. Genuine leather seating arrives at the Limited trim and above.

Can the SEL tow a boat?

Up to 3,500 pounds with trailer brakes, enough for most small to mid-size boats on a trailer. The XRT's 4,500-pound rating is the one to consider for something larger.

See the SEL in person

Photos don't capture how the H-Tex leatherette feels or how much roomier the cabin seems with roof rails carrying gear instead of the third row. Current SEL inventory is posted live at Lakeland Automall, with the SE and Limited both on the same lot for a direct comparison.