Hyundai trim levels explained
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Most Hyundai models use a common trim ladder — SE, SEL, N Line or XRT (sport/off-road styling), Limited and, on the Palisade and Santa Fe, Calligraphy at the top — with Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric versions sold under the same nameplate. The N badge (Elantra N, Ioniq 5 N) marks Hyundai’s performance models. CarWhere lays out 142 trims across 11 Hyundai models — Palisade, Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra, Sonata, IONIQ 5, Kona, Venue, Santa Cruz, IONIQ 6 and IONIQ 9 — with dated base MSRPs, engines and key equipment.
| Model | Current generation | Trims | From (USD) | Trim ladder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Palisade trim levels | Second generation (2026 model year) | 11 | $39,4352026 MY | SE → SEL → SEL Convenience → SEL Premium → XRT PRO → Limited → Calligraphy → Hybrid SEL → Hybrid SEL Premium → Hybrid Limited → Hybrid Calligraphy |
| Hyundai Tucson trim levels | Fourth generation (2026 model year) | 11 | $29,2002026 MY | SE → SEL → XRT → SEL Premium → Limited → Hybrid Blue SE → Hybrid SEL → Hybrid SEL Convenience → Hybrid Limited → Plug-in Hybrid SEL → Plug-in Hybrid Limited |
| Hyundai Santa Fe trim levels | Fifth generation (2026 model year) | 9 | $34,8002026 MY | SE → SEL → XRT → Limited → Calligraphy → SE Hybrid → SEL Hybrid → Limited Hybrid → Calligraphy Hybrid |
| Hyundai Elantra trim levels | Seventh generation (2026 model year) | 10 | $22,6252026 MY | SE → SEL Sport → SEL Sport Premium → Limited → N Line → Hybrid Blue → Hybrid SEL Sport → Hybrid Limited → N (manual) → N (DCT) |
| Hyundai Sonata trim levels | Eighth generation (2026 model year) | 6 | $27,3002026 MY | SE → SEL Sport → N Line → Hybrid Blue → Hybrid SEL → Hybrid Limited |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 trim levels | First generation (2026 model year) | 9 | $35,0002026 MY | SE Standard Range RWD → SE RWD → SEL RWD → Limited RWD → SE AWD → SEL AWD → XRT AWD → Limited AWD → IONIQ 5 N |
| Hyundai Kona trim levels | Second generation (2026 model year) | 8 | $25,3502026 MY | SE → SEL Sport → SEL Premium → Limited → Electric SE → Electric SEL → Electric N Line → Electric Limited |
| Hyundai Venue trim levels | First generation (2026 model year) | 3 | $20,5502026 MY | SE → SEL → SEL with 2-Tone Roof |
| Hyundai Santa Cruz trim levels | First generation (2026 model year) | 5 | $29,5002026 MY | SE → SEL → SEL Activity → XRT → Limited |
| Hyundai IONIQ 6 trim levels | First generation (2025 model year) | 7 | $37,8502025 MY | SE Standard Range RWD → SE RWD → SEL RWD → Limited RWD → SE AWD → SEL AWD → Limited AWD |
| Hyundai IONIQ 9 trim levels | First generation (2026 launch) | 6 | $58,9552026 MY | S RWD → SE AWD → SEL AWD → Performance Limited AWD → Performance Calligraphy AWD → Performance Calligraphy Design AWD |
Hyundai Palisade trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade comes in seven gas trims and four hybrid trims. Gas prices run from the SE at $39,435 to the Calligraphy at $54,560 with FWD, excluding $1,600 freight. AWD adds $2,000. The hybrid starts at $44,160 (SEL) and tops out at $58,780 (Calligraphy AWD).
Hyundai Tucson trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson has five gas trims: SE ($29,200), SEL ($30,550), XRT ($33,225), SEL Premium ($33,550) and Limited ($39,175), with FWD and before $1,600 freight. AWD adds $1,500. The AWD Tucson Hybrid runs $32,200–$41,825, and the Plug-in Hybrid costs $40,075–$48,300.
Hyundai Santa Fe trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe offers five gas trims, from the SE at $34,800 to the Calligraphy at $47,350 with FWD, excluding $1,600 freight. AWD adds $1,800, and the XRT ($41,790) comes only with AWD. The Santa Fe Hybrid has four trims priced from $36,150 to $50,250.
Hyundai Elantra trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra comes in four gas trims, from the SE at $22,625 to the Limited at $27,175, plus the 201-hp N Line at $29,400, all excluding $1,245 freight. The Elantra Hybrid runs $25,450–$29,800, and the 276-hp Elantra N costs $35,100 with a manual or $36,600 with a DCT.
Hyundai Sonata trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Sonata comes in three gas trims: SE ($27,300), SEL Sport ($29,000, or $30,500 with AWD) and the 290-hp N Line ($35,900). Hybrid Blue ($29,050), Hybrid SEL ($32,300) and Hybrid Limited ($38,100) complete the lineup. All prices exclude $1,245 freight.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 starts at $35,000 for the SE Standard Range RWD and tops out at $48,975 for the Limited AWD, excluding $1,600 freight. The lineup is SE, SEL, XRT (AWD only) and Limited. Hyundai cut 2026 prices by $7,600–$9,800 on Oct 1, 2025. The 601-hp IONIQ 5 N listed at $66,100 for 2025.
Hyundai Kona trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Kona comes in four trims: SE ($25,350), SEL Sport ($26,675), SEL Premium ($28,550) and Limited ($32,650), with FWD and before $1,600 freight. AWD adds $1,500. The SE and SEL Sport use a 147-hp 2.0L, and the upper trims a 190-hp 1.6L turbo. The 2025 Kona Electric costs $32,975–$41,150.
Hyundai Venue trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Venue comes in two trims: the SE at $20,550 and the SEL at $22,825. A SEL with 2-Tone Roof that drops the sunroof costs $22,600. All prices exclude $1,600 freight. Every Venue is front-wheel drive with a 121-hp 1.6L four and an IVT.
Hyundai Santa Cruz trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz comes in five trims, excluding $1,600 freight. The SE ($29,500), SEL ($31,150) and SEL Activity ($34,200) use a 191-hp 2.5L, with AWD $1,500 extra. The AWD-only XRT ($41,100) and Limited ($43,450) get a 281-hp 2.5L turbo rated to tow 5,000 lb on the XRT.
Hyundai IONIQ 6 trim levels
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 runs from $37,850 for the SE Standard Range RWD to $54,600 for the Limited AWD, excluding $1,245 freight. Its trims are SE, SEL and Limited, each with RWD or dual-motor AWD. The SE RWD has the longest estimated range, at 342 miles.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 trim levels
The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 three-row EV comes in six trims, excluding $1,600 freight. The S RWD ($58,955) has 335 miles of range. The SE ($62,765) and SEL ($66,320) are 303-hp AWD. The 422-hp Performance Limited ($71,250), Performance Calligraphy ($74,990) and Calligraphy Design ($76,490) top the line.
Confirm the real trim and packages of any Hyundai.
Badges can be swapped and listings get trims wrong. The CarWhere Hyundai build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Palisade trim levels in order?
The current Hyundai Palisade (Second generation (2026 model year)) comes in 11 trims, lowest to highest: SE, SEL, SEL Convenience, SEL Premium, XRT PRO, Limited, Calligraphy, Hybrid SEL, Hybrid SEL Premium, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Calligraphy. Base prices for the 2026 model year start at $39,435.
What are the Tucson trim levels in order?
The current Hyundai Tucson (Fourth generation (2026 model year)) comes in 11 trims, lowest to highest: SE, SEL, XRT, SEL Premium, Limited, Hybrid Blue SE, Hybrid SEL, Hybrid SEL Convenience, Hybrid Limited, Plug-in Hybrid SEL, Plug-in Hybrid Limited. Base prices for the 2026 model year start at $29,200.
What are the Santa Fe trim levels in order?
The current Hyundai Santa Fe (Fifth generation (2026 model year)) comes in 9 trims, lowest to highest: SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, Calligraphy, SE Hybrid, SEL Hybrid, Limited Hybrid, Calligraphy Hybrid. Base prices for the 2026 model year start at $34,800.
What are the Elantra trim levels in order?
The current Hyundai Elantra (Seventh generation (2026 model year)) comes in 10 trims, lowest to highest: SE, SEL Sport, SEL Sport Premium, Limited, N Line, Hybrid Blue, Hybrid SEL Sport, Hybrid Limited, N (manual), N (DCT). Base prices for the 2026 model year start at $22,625.
How can I tell what trim my Hyundai is?
Badges can be swapped or deleted, so the reliable record is the original paperwork or the build record tied to the VIN, which shows the trim, engine and packages the car was built with. Hyundai trim names (SE, SEL, Limited, Calligraphy) usually appear on the window sticker and sometimes on the tailgate, but trim levels and packages are only confirmed by the build record.
Sources
Each trim page lists its own dated Hyundai sources. Key references:
- Hyundai Motor America newsroom — pricing, specifications and model-year changes — Hyundai Motor America
- hyundaiusa.com — models, build and price — Hyundai Motor America
More Hyundai tools
- Hyundai research hub
- Hyundai known issues by model
- Hyundai history
- Hyundai and Kia engines
- Hyundai warranty
- Hyundai engine settlement
- Hyundai anti-theft software update
- Free Hyundai VIN decoder
- Hyundai specs by model
- Hyundai reliability
- How long do Hyundai models last?
- Hyundai invoice vs what buyers paid
- Hyundai build sheet by VIN
- Genesis (Hyundai’s luxury brand)
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Hyundai Motor America, Hyundai Motor Company or Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai and the model names are trademarks of their owners.