[2][3] The Stellar was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro using a rear-wheel drive chassis from the Cortina Mark V. The engine and transmission were licensed by Mitsubishi Motors.

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,[4] 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.

The front double wishbone suspension was changed to a MacPherson strut design, along with larger brake callipers, as well as a two-piece driveshaft.

The Stellar had the option of riding on several types of aluminium alloy wheels and was equipped with standard Michelin all-season tyres in Canada.

[vague] In addition, the Stellar was the only inexpensive four-cylinder powered rear-wheel-drive saloon car after the Toyota Corolla shifted to front-wheel drive in 1984 and the Daihatsu Charmant was discontinued in 1987.