2026 Tucson SEL Plus

A small step, a real difference

H-Tex is Hyundai's leatherette — it looks and wears like leather without the upkeep, which matters in a Florida garage where humidity and sun exposure are constant. It also cleans up faster after a beach-towel-and-sandy-kids kind of Saturday, a genuinely practical upgrade over cloth rather than a purely cosmetic one. The 19-inch wheels fill the arches more than the SEL's 18s, and the blackout pillar trim gives the greenhouse a slightly sportier, less upright look from the curb.

The memory seat is the sleeper feature. Households sharing one Tucson between two drivers of different heights will use it every day without thinking about it — press the button, the seat, mirrors, and (on later trims) more settings snap back to your saved position.

Who this trim is actually for

Buyers who've already decided the SEL's comfort features are worth having and are choosing between cloth and leatherette for $500 more. It's not a meaningful step up in capability or safety tech — the SEL Premium is where the bigger tech jump happens, with navigation and the digital cluster. The SEL Plus is a styling and materials decision, full stop.

Dave Glover's review after trading in through Fernando Ortiz captures the kind of low-friction purchase this trim tends to attract: "I just purchased a new 2026 Hyundai Tucson from Fernando Ortiz at Lakeland Hyundai. It was a very smooth and easy process. He was a pleasure to deal with. I would recommend him for any of your car buying needs. I also use their service department and they are great!" Fernando "Fern" Ortiz is a Hyundai sales consultant on the dealership's published staff list and shows up by name across multiple Tucson purchase reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Is the SEL Plus worth $500 over the SEL?

If leatherette seating, 19-inch wheels, and memory seat settings appeal to you, yes — it's a small price for a noticeable materials upgrade. If those don't matter, the SEL keeps the same comfort features (power seat, heated seats, liftgate, dual-zone climate) for less.

Does the SEL Plus have real leather?

No — it's H-Tex, Hyundai's leatherette material. Genuine leather-trimmed seating starts on the Limited trim.

Does the memory seat work with a shared key fob?

The Integrated Memory System ties saved positions to the key profile in use, so two drivers using two different fobs each get their own saved settings.

Is the SEL Plus available as a hybrid?

Not under this exact trim name — the hybrid line has its own naming (Blue SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, Limited, Night). If a hybrid powertrain matters more than the SEL Plus's specific styling, start with the Blue SE guide.

The bottom line

The SEL Plus is a $500 upgrade you'll notice with your hands more than your eyes — better-wearing seats, memory settings, a slightly sportier look. Nothing about how it drives changes. Check SEL Plus inventory at Lakeland Hyundai.