What the 2025 Tucson lineup includes

The 2025 Hyundai Tucson comes in five trim levels: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and Ultimate. Each trim adds features and upgrades as you move up the lineup, and you can also choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) on most trims. The base SE starts with essentials like a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Ultimate trim adds leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, and upgraded safety technology.

Hyundai also offers a plug-in hybrid version called the Tucson Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), which is available in SEL, Limited, and Ultimate trims. This version pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor and a rechargeable battery, giving you the option to drive on electric power alone for short trips. The PHEV has a different interior layout because the battery takes up cargo space, so it holds less than the standard gas model.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2025 Tucson offers five gas-powered trims (SE through Ultimate) plus a plug-in hybrid version in three trims, so your first choice is whether you want a traditional gas engine or hybrid power.
  • Front-wheel drive comes standard on all trims, but all-wheel drive is available on every model and costs roughly $1,500 to $1,800 more depending on the trim.
  • Moving from SE to SEL adds a power liftgate and an eight-inch touchscreen; SEL Plus adds a panoramic sunroof and wireless phone charging; Limited adds leather seats and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
  • The plug-in hybrid uses less fuel for daily commutes but has a smaller cargo area and takes longer to charge than a standard hybrid, so it works best if you have a place to plug in at home.
  • Standard safety features like forward collision warning and lane-keeping information come on all trims, but the Ultimate adds blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors.

Trim-by-trim breakdown: what you get at each level

The SE is the entry point and includes air conditioning, power windows and locks, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rearview camera, and Hyundai's SmartSense safety suite (forward collision warning, lane-keeping information, and driver attention warning). It seats five and comes with cloth upholstery. The SE does not include a power liftgate or wireless charging.

The SEL adds a power liftgate, an eight-inch touchscreen (larger than the SE's), heated front seats, and a six-way power driver's seat. The SEL Plus steps up with a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a power passenger seat. The Limited brings leather seating, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. The Ultimate adds a panoramic sunroof (if you didn't get it on SEL Plus), blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a Bose premium audio system.

If you choose the plug-in hybrid, you lose some cargo space because the battery sits under the floor, but you gain the ability to drive on electric power alone for up to 44 miles on a full charge. The PHEV is not available in the SE trim—it starts at SEL.

Front-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive

All 2025 Tucsons come with front-wheel drive as standard. All-wheel drive is a paid option on every trim and costs between $1,500 and $1,800 depending on which model you choose. AWD improves traction in snow, ice, and mud, and it can slightly improve handling on wet roads, but it also reduces fuel economy by about 2 to 3 miles per gallon.

Choose AWD if you live in a region with regular snow or ice, drive on unpaved roads, or want better grip in heavy rain. If you live in a warm, dry climate and mostly drive on highways and city streets, FWD will save you money at the pump and is sufficient for most drivers. The difference in real-world performance is most noticeable in winter conditions; in dry weather, most drivers will not feel a significant difference.

Gas engine versus plug-in hybrid

The standard 2025 Tucson uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower and gets an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon combined (26 city, 32 highway) with front-wheel drive. This engine is proven, reliable, and requires no special charging equipment—you just fill it with regular gasoline at any pump.

The Tucson Plug-in Hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor and a 13.8-kilowatt-hour battery. It can run on electric power alone for up to 44 miles, which covers most daily commutes. When the battery is depleted, the gas engine takes over. The PHEV gets an EPA-estimated 54 miles per gallon equivalent combined when you account for electric driving, but that number assumes you charge the battery regularly. If you never plug it in, it behaves like a regular hybrid and gets roughly 40 miles per gallon combined.

The plug-in hybrid makes sense if you have a place to charge at home (a standard 120-volt outlet takes about 10 hours; a 240-volt charger takes about 2.5 hours) and your daily commute is under 44 miles. It costs more upfront—roughly $4,000 to $5,000 more than the equivalent gas model—but you save on fuel over time. If you cannot charge at home or take frequent long road trips, the standard gas engine is simpler and less expensive.

Interior and technology features by trim

Every 2025 Tucson includes a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the size and capabilities change with the trim. The SE has a 10.25-inch screen; the SEL and SEL Plus have an eight-inch screen (which is actually smaller, despite being a different generation); the Limited and Ultimate have a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster plus a larger infotainment screen. Wireless phone charging appears on the SEL Plus and higher trims.

Seating material also varies: the SE and SEL use cloth, the SEL Plus uses cloth with upgraded trim, and the Limited and Ultimate use leather. Heated front seats come standard on the SEL and higher. The Ultimate adds a Bose audio system with eight speakers instead of the standard six-speaker setup.

Climate control is single-zone on the SE, SEL, and SEL Plus, and dual-zone (driver and passenger can set different temperatures) on the Limited and Ultimate. The power-adjustable steering wheel appears only on the Limited and Ultimate.

Safety features and what changes at higher trims

Hyundai's SmartSense safety suite comes standard on every 2025 Tucson and includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping information, driver attention warning, and a rearview camera. These features are the same across all trims and are not optional.

The Limited and Ultimate add blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you if a vehicle is approaching from the side or behind when you are backing up or changing lanes. The Ultimate also includes parking sensors on the front and rear bumpers, which beep as you approach obstacles. Neither of these features is available on lower trims, even as a paid option.

All trims include a rearview camera, but only the Limited and Ultimate add a surround-view camera system that shows a bird's-eye view of the vehicle when you are parking. If parking information is important to you, the Limited is the minimum trim that includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Cargo space and practicality across configurations

The standard gas-powered Tucson offers 39.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 76.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The plug-in hybrid has less space—33.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 71.2 cubic feet with seats folded—because the battery pack takes up room under the floor. If you regularly haul large items or need maximum cargo capacity, the gas model is the better choice.

All trims include a power liftgate on the SEL and higher (the SE has a manual liftgate). The rear seats fold flat on all models, making it straightforward to load long items. Roof rails come standard on all trims, so you can add a roof rack if you need extra carrying capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the SEL and SEL Plus?

The SEL Plus adds a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a power passenger seat. The SEL has a power driver's seat only. Both have the same eight-inch touchscreen and heated front seats. If you want a sunroof and wireless charging, the SEL Plus is worth the upgrade; if not, the SEL saves you money.

Should I get all-wheel drive if I live somewhere with occasional snow?

All-wheel drive helps in snow and ice, but it is not required for occasional winter weather if you drive carefully and have good winter tires. If you get heavy snow regularly or drive on unplowed roads, AWD is a worthwhile investment. For occasional snow, good tires and careful driving are often enough, and FWD will save you money on fuel and maintenance.

Can I charge the plug-in hybrid with a regular outlet?

Yes, a standard 120-volt household outlet will charge the battery, but it takes about 10 hours for a full charge. A 240-volt charger (like those used for electric vehicles) cuts that time to about 2.5 hours. If you have access to a 240-volt charger at home or work, the PHEV becomes much more practical for daily use.

Does the SE have all the safety features I need?

The SE includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping information, and a rearview camera—the core safety tools most drivers need. The Limited and Ultimate add blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors, which are helpful but not essential. If budget is your priority, the SE's safety package is solid; if you want extra parking information, step up to the Limited.

What happens to fuel economy if I choose all-wheel drive?

All-wheel drive reduces fuel economy by roughly 2 to 3 miles per gallon across all trims. A front-wheel-drive SE gets about 28 miles per gallon combined; an all-wheel-drive SE gets about 25 to 26. The difference is small enough that it should not be your only deciding factor, but it is worth knowing if fuel costs matter to your budget.