Hyundai · 1983–1997

Hyundai Stellar

The Hyundai Stellar (Hangul: 현대 스텔라) is a large family car produced by the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company from July 1983 until the 1992 model year. It succeeded the Ford Cortina, which Hyundai had built under license. The Stellar was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro using a rear-wheel drive chassis from the Cortina Mark V.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Ford Cortina · Successor: Hyundai Avante (Elantra)|Hyundai Sonata

All Hyundai Stellar data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Technology

The engine and transmission were licensed by Mitsubishi Motors. Engines available were 1.4 L (4G33, same as the Hyundai Pony) and 1.6 L (4G32) inline-fours until 1986, using either a KM119 4- or 5-speed manual or a Borg-Warner 03-55L 3-speed automatic and a 2.0 L engine in 1987. Trim levels included L (base), GL/CL/SL, and CXL/GSL. The CXL/GSL featured power windows, locks and mirrors, remote fuel door, remote boot, premium sound system, full instrumentation (speed, tach, fuel, water temp, volts, and oil pressure), headlamp washers, and available air conditioning. The Stellar's Ford genes and conventional design led many British observers to compare it with the then recently discontinued Cortina - where conservative buyers were scared off by the Sierra's radical styling, a fact played upon by Hyundai's advertising agency with print advertisements depicting a jelly mould shaped like the Sierra above a picture of the Stellar. Like the Cortina, the Stellar also has wishbone suspension up front with a coil-sprung live rear axle. As well as being comparable to the Cortina, which had been Britain's best-selling car, it also found favour with buyers due to its competitive asking price, which meant that it was priced comparably to a smaller Escort rather than a Sierra. It was sold in the UK from June 1984 until the arrival of the Lantra in 1991. It was the second Hyundai model to be imported to Europe, two years after the launch of the smaller Pony. In 1987, the car was refreshed with the name changed to Stellar II (or Stellar 2.0 in Canada) in many markets. Changes included a 2-way catalytic converter, new instrument cluster, larger 2.0 L Mitsubishi 4G63 engine (SOHC with eight valves) with a feedback two-barrel carburettor, higher output alternator, larger headlights, and re

Lineup

Prima (1983–1986) TX (1985–1997) FX (1983–1986) GX (1987–1990) GSL (1983–1986) SL (1983–1986) CXL (Canada and Korea only, 1984–1986) Apex (1986–1987) 88 (Seoul Olympic limited edition, 1987–1988) GXL (1989–1991) 1.8 i (1990–1992) Europe: 1.4 L 4-speed manual (1983–1987) 1.4 SL 4-speed manual (1983–198?) 1.4 GLS 5-speed manual 1.6 L 4-speed manual (1983–1987) 1.6 L 5-speed manual (1987–1989) 1.6 SL 5-speed manual (1983–1989) 1.6 SL automatic (1983–1987) 1.6 GLS/GSL 5-speed manual (1983–1989) 1.6 GSL automatic (1983–1989) 2.0 GSL "Prima" 5-speed manual (1987–1989) 2.0 GSL "Prima" automatic (1987–1989) Korea: 1.4L Engine (1983–1987): 1.4L SL 4-Speed manual 1.4L GSL 4-Speed manual 1.4L "Prima" 4-Speed manual 1.4L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1983–1985) 1.6L Engine (1983–1986/1987–1990) 1.6L GSL 4-Speed manual (1983–1984) 1.6L "Prima" 4-Speed manual (1983–1984) 1.6L Wagon 4-Speed manual (Police-use only, 1984–1986) 1.6L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1983–1987) 1.6L LPG Taxi 5-Speed manual (1987–1990) 1.5L Engine (1984–1990) 1.5L SL 4-Speed manual (1984–1987) 1.5L GL 4-Speed manual (1987–1990) 1.5L GX 4-Speed manual (1986–1990) 1.5L CXL 3-Speed automatic (1985–1986) 1.5L CXL 4-Speed manual (1985–1986) 1.5L CXL 5-Speed manual (1985–1986) 1.5L 88 4-Speed automatic (1987–1988) 1.5L 88 5-Speed manual (1987–1988) 1.5L GXL 4-Speed automatic (1989–1990) 1.5L GXL 5-Speed manual (1989–1990) 1.5L APEX 4-Speed manual (1986–1990) 1.5L LPG Taxi 4-Speed manual (1985–1987) 1.8L Engine (1990–1997) 1.8i 4-Speed automatic (1990–1992) 1.8i 5-Speed manual (1990–1992) 1.8 LPG Taxi 5-Speed manual (1990–1997) 2.0L Engine (1987–1997) 2.0 LPG TX (Taxi) 5-Speed manual (1987–1997)

Major specifications

Overall length: 4416 mm (173.9 in) (2.0 GSL: 4578 mm (180.2 in)) Overall width: 1716 mm (67.6 in) Overall height: 1372 mm (54.0 in) Wheelbase: 2579 mm (101.5 in) Front track: 1445 mm (56.89 in) Rear track: 1425 mm (56.10 in) Curb weight: 1000 kg (2204 lb.) (2.0 GSL: 1164 kg (2566 lb.)) Gross weight: 1475 kg (3251 lb.) (2.0 GSL: 1610 kg (3549 lb.)) Wheel dimensions: 13 x 4.5 in or 13 x 5.5 in Steering type: Rack and pinion Front brakes: Disc Rear brakes: Drum

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Hyundai Stellar
Manufacturer: Hyundai
Production: May 1983 – April 1992 (until January 1997 for LPG Taxi models)
Assembly: South Korea: Ulsan
Class: Mid-size car (D)
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout
Predecessor: Ford Cortina
Related: Ford Cortina Mark V, Ford Taunus TC
Successor: Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata
Engine: 1.4 L Mitsubishi 4G33 I4 (1983–1987), 1.5 L Mitsubishi 4G31 I4 (1984–1990), 1.6 L Mitsubishi 4G32 I4 (1983–1990), 1.8 L Mitsubishi 4G62 I4 (1990–1997), 2.0 L Mitsubishi 4G63 I4 (1987–1997)
Transmission: 4-speed Mitsubishi KM119 manual, 5-speed Mitsubishi KM119 manual, 3-speed Borg-Warner 03-55L automatic, 4-speed Borg-Warner 03-71 automatic with overdrive (1987–1992 models only)
Length: 4,416 mm (173.9 in)
Wheelbase: 2,579 mm (101.5 in)
Height: 1,372 mm (54.0 in)
Width: 1,716 mm (67.6 in)
Kerb weight: 1,000 kg (2,204 lb)
Designer: Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
Body style: 4-door saloon

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483495CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_StellarCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1376371984 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:STELLAR_GSL.JPGPublic domain · Photo: Vipulasrilanka at English Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.