Is the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium Package Worth It?

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package is priced at $2,100 and adds a number of comfort/quality-of-life upgrades—but is it actually worth it?
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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At $2,100, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package is a bit of a pricey upgrade, one that adds a power sunroof, 8-speaker Bose sound system, Hyundai Digital Key, and a few more comfort-forward features.
  • The Premium package is available on the outgoing 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL for $2,100.
  • This package was discontinued for the 2023 Elantra model.
As far as compact cars go, the Hyundai Elantra isn’t a bad choice—even at the base SE level, this model offers an admirable array of standard features, and the SEL trim is a step up from that. Of course, if you aren’t satisfied with the basic build but don’t want to shell out for the top-of-the-line Limited trim, adding the Premium package is a good compromise.
Or rather, it can be. To figure out whether or not the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package is really worth the added cost, we’ve put together the following article breaking down what it contains and what your other options are.

What is the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package?

For a few years now, Hyundai has offered a “Premium” package on the Elantra and several other models as a way of providing a few extra popular features without forcing customers to move up an entire trim level. In the fundamental sense, the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package is a suite of infotainment and comfort features with a few small convenience features sprinkled in.

What it contains

Purchasing the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package adds the following features:
  • Power sunroof
  • LED + bulb tail lights
  • Side mirror turn signal indicators
  • Hyundai Digital Key
  • Power driver’s seat w/ lumbar
  • 60/40 split-folding rear seatback w/ armrest cup holders
  • 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels w/ P225/45R17 tires
  • Premium Bose audio system w/ 8 speakers
As you can see, there isn’t anything that drastically alters the vehicle’s performance or overall styling, but the Premium package does include a host of features that improve the Elantra’s comfort and general driving experience.
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What it does

Most of the Premium package’s features—such as the sunroof, wheels, side mirror turn signal indicators, and LED lights—are fairly self-explanatory, but there are a few additions that deserve extra attention, starting with the upgraded sound system.
While it may not be the most drastic upgrade, the inclusion of a Bose-designed sound system takes your Elantra’s audio capabilities to the next level, providing eight high-performance speakers (as opposed to the standard six) to deliver the best sound possible. And while you could opt to install an aftermarket sound system instead, the Premium package’s Bose system is designed specifically for the Elantra’s unique cabin acoustics.
Another noteworthy addition is the 17” aluminum alloy wheels, as the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL comes standard with smaller 16” wheels. Although the difference in diameters isn’t very big, the larger wheels increase traction and can even improve the car’s cornering and handling abilities.
Of these nine additional features, the Hyundai Digital Key is probably the most interesting, as the technology it utilizes is pretty new to the industry as a whole. With Hyundai Digital Key, you’re able to unlock your Elantra with your smartphone (eliminating the need for a physical key or key fob), start the engine remotely, and even activate the security alarm.
What’s more, access to the vehicle can be shared across four phones and each user can tailor the car’s settings—seat position, side-mirror position, audio controls, etc.—to their liking in the Hyundai mobile app. When the NFC sensors in the door handle detect a shared phone, the door will unlock and the vehicle will adjust settings depending on the user’s set preferences in their vehicle profile.
Currently, however, Hyundai Digital Key is only compatible with Android smartphones, specifically those with:
  • Android 7.0 or later
  • Near Field Communication (NFC)
  • Bluetooth (BLE) 4.0 or later

How much does the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package cost?

As it stands, the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package is only offered on the outgoing 2022 model and currently sells for $2,100.
To put that into perspective, the standard 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL starts at $21,450—if you add the Premium package for an additional $2,100, it bumps the total cost up to at least $23,550.

Is the Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package worth it?

It depends. As a whole, the Premium package offers a few really great features that can certainly improve one’s overall driving experience—but at the end of the day, these features aren’t necessarily must-haves and can even lead to increased insurance rates.
And if you don’t have an Android phone, you lose out on one of the Premium package’s most useful features, the Hyundai Digital Key—so keep that in mind when considering whether you want to add it to your Elantra.

Premium package vs. Convenience package

The only other true package available for the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL is the Convenience package, which can be purchased for an additional $900—a sight cheaper than the Premium package.
By adding the Convenience package, you’ll get:
  • Heated outside mirrors
  • Heated front seats
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel shifter
  • Wireless charging pad (Qi format)
  • Full 10.25-inch LCD TFT cluster
  • Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop Go
  • Electronic parking brake w/ Automatic Vehicle Hold
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning detection
As you can probably guess, the Convenience package prioritizes the addition of more immediately useful technology, as opposed to the Premium package’s addition of aesthetic, comfort, and entertainment-forward tech.
And while some of the Convenience package’s features aren’t super important, the added safety aspects can actually help you qualify for certain insurance discounts, meaning you could save more money both at the time of the vehicle’s purchase and down the line.

The bottom line

If you believe that the 2022 Hyundai Elantra SEL Premium package’s contents justify its price, then by all means, add it to your new vehicle—but if you don’t think you’ll enjoy or make use of its core features, we’d suggest passing on the upgrade.
If you don’t have an Android cellphone, we’d definitely recommend forgoing this package, as you won’t be able to use the Hyundai Digital Key feature—and there’s no sense in paying for something you can’t use.
Depending on what sort of tech you like having in your vehicle, you may find that the contents of SEL’s other major package—the Convenience package—are more to your liking, or you might just leave the vehicle as is.
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