Tucson SEL Plus
Quick Answer: 2026 Hyundai Tucson SEL Plus
The SEL Plus adds $500 to the SEL's price for $31,300 MSRP and spends every dollar of it on how the Tucson looks and feels rather than new mechanicals. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels replace the SEL's 18s, H-Tex leatherette-trimmed seats replace cloth, gloss-black B- and C-pillars sharpen the profile, and an Integrated Memory System saves driver seat and mirror positions for two profiles. Underneath, it's the identical 187-hp gas engine, eight-speed automatic, and full SmartSense suite as every other gas Tucson. Lakeland Automall stocks the SEL Plus at 1430 West Memorial Boulevard.
A style trim, not a features trim
Every item the SEL Plus adds over the SEL is visual or tactile rather than functional. The 19-inch wheels fill the wheel wells noticeably more than the SEL's 18s. H-Tex — Hyundai's leatherette — wipes clean easier than cloth, which matters more in Florida than in a drier climate given how much sand, sunscreen, and pool runoff ends up on a back seat here. The gloss-black pillar trim gives the roofline a floating look from the side. None of that changes the drive: same 25/33/28 mpg estimates, same 8-way power driver's seat and heated front seats carried over from the SEL, same dual-zone climate.
What the Integrated Memory System actually does
It's a small feature that earns its keep in a two-driver household. The system saves the driver's seat position, mirror angle, and a few other settings to a profile, so switching drivers doesn't mean re-adjusting everything from scratch. It's the kind of thing that doesn't show up on a test drive but gets noticed within the first week of ownership.
Deciding between SEL Plus and XRT
Both sit close in price — SEL Plus at $31,300, XRT at $33,475 — but they solve different problems. SEL Plus is refinement on the standard Tucson shape; the XRT layers on rugged black cladding, a standard tow hitch, and (with AWD) a dedicated Terrain Mode. Buyers choosing on looks alone tend to prefer the XRT's more aggressive stance; buyers who just want the nicer materials without a styling statement land on SEL Plus.
A trade-in-and-buy-again story
Sue Fowler's account of shopping the Tucson here shows the unhurried, multi-visit pace a lot of SEL Plus buyers take: "From the time we walked in on a busy Saturday, Frank was extremely helpful. He took as much time as we needed to show us the Hyundai Tucson in many different models and point out all the different features. We never felt any pressure to make a purchase that day and he had mentioned numerous times to come back and see him when we were ready. We did return to see Frank shortly after that day and he went out of his way to find us the car we wanted." Frank Uria remains on the sales floor today per the dealership's published staff directory.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2026 Tucson SEL Plus cost?
MSRP is $31,300 with front-wheel drive, before Hyundai's $1,600 freight charge and Florida's taxes and DMV fees. See the pricing guide for the full walkthrough.
Is H-Tex the same as real leather?
No — H-Tex is Hyundai's leatherette (synthetic) seating surface. Genuine leather-trimmed seats don't appear in the Tucson lineup until the Limited trim.
Does the SEL Plus ride differently on 19-inch wheels?
The change is subtle. Larger wheels generally transmit slightly more road texture, but the Tucson's suspension tuning is shared across trims, so the difference between the SEL's 18s and the SEL Plus's 19s is minor compared with the jump to XRT's or Limited's wheel-and-tire packages.
Does the SEL Plus have navigation or a sunroof?
No — neither is available until SEL Premium, which adds built-in navigation, a power tilt-and-slide sunroof, and a wireless phone charger on top of everything the SEL Plus offers.
Is there a hybrid version of the SEL Plus specifically?
Not under that name. The closest hybrid equivalent by price and content is the Hybrid SEL Convenience at $34,900, which pairs similar interior materials with standard AWD and roughly 36 mpg. Compare it in the SEL Convenience guide.
The bottom line
SEL Plus is for buyers who've already decided on the SEL's feature set and are willing to pay $500 more to make it look and feel a notch nicer. Check SEL Plus inventory at Lakeland Automall.
Every 2026 Tucson guide
MSRP figures exclude the $1,600 freight charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates. Equipment and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Lakeland Automall. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Lakeland Automall.