Real Road Test: Hyundai Stellar - standard and V8! 

Why are these vehicle reviews soooo much more satisfying than vicarious gushings over the latest $$$$ supercars?

Only on a HubNut video would you hear the words 'magnificently' and 'beige' uttered in the same sentence!

Excellent V8 conversation and I must say pretty stylish car too, the Audi 80/100 influencers are there.

Beige is a state of mind

Oh that noise, love a Rover V8. The car version of a Spitfire's Merlin engine.

I don't think I would ever get bored of surprising drivers of modern BMW & Audi & Mercedes etc when setting off from the lights in the V8 Stellar. The look on their faces would be priceless. Probably the best Q car ever.

1:40 “magnificently beige”. What a great way to describe something that’s excels at being average!

After a trio of dire Ford company cars back in the 90s the company I worked for then gave me a new '97 Hyundai Lantra. Hyundai were still a lesser-known car manufacturer back then so I was a bit sceptical but I needn't have worried; it was a breath of fresh air after the Fords in pretty much every aspect including dealer servicing & I did 120,000 trouble-free miles in it over 2 years. Because of that I still hold that manufacturer in high regard to this day. That V8 is absolutely wonderful & is my sort of car; standard looking but with an unusual twist & oh that sound! :-)

The Korean Cortina! That Rover V8 sounds sweet though..

The Rover V8 itself produces one hell of an engine note.

Ahhh you have brought back memories! Back in 1986 when I was just 19 I bought a Hyundai Pony 1.3L - the basic model! Loved that car, but swapped it a few years later for a more trendy MG Metro. I have held affection for Hyundai ever since! My older colleague Jim had a Stella. I thought it was amazing. At that time all those knobs & buttons, electric windows, electric aerial, auto reverse cassette. Younger people may be laughing now, but air con and stuff like that was reserved for high end cars like Jags & top of the range Rovers or Ford Granada Ghias Basic cars had wind down windows and just a radio. Thanks for another great video :-)

Cheers hubnut and the owners of the 2 beautiful cars

The official name for that interior colour scheme is "Rhapsody in Brown". Trust me I'm a designer.

Totally utterly rare car. Two together. And one is V8. WOW.

Oooo cheese and tomato toastie, mug of tea and hubnut in a v8 Hyundai - made my Monday.

Realised the dashboard in the Stellar looks very similar to the Rover 800 dashboards. Love Matt's V8 conversion Stellar.

I love that Rover V8 engine I could listen to that noise all day

LOVE the simple layout of the dashboard.. NERD FACT.... With a V8 engine TWO of the cylinders are ALWAYS on the power stroke at any given time.

My first visit to Korea in 1998 and I was introduced to these lovely Korean cars. I had an amazing time in Korea - my favourite time tho, being in the amazing Daewoo Tico, a car full of koreans and a very 'big' westerner hammering along the motorway as this tiny car overtook a full squad of Korean soldiers in huge trucks cheering us on as we just about overtook :) If you ever have the opportunity to get a Tico, you will have 2 challenges, finding one, then getting in it (its smaller than a Matiz)

Very nice cars both.Good to see the Stellar still around.Great vid lan👍!

I enjoy the passanger cam very much, Mr. Hubnut, it gives us viewers a great view of the wondrous dashboards of the cars you drive!

I bought a bright orange hyundai pony for £50 to deliver pizzas in the early 90s. It was an amazingly reliable car.

I ran a Rover SD1 Vanden Plas for many years, fitted an Edelbrock inlet manifold and Holley carburettor, transformed the car.

Both lovely machines, but that V8... how appetizing is that? Amazing, with one of the finest engine notes I've ever heard.

I had an early Sonata in 1990 in Kitwe, Zambia. Engine was 2,4l Mitsubishi and it drank fuel. We had 2 in the company, both same heavy fuel consumption that the importers could never solve. Was a comfortable car on the lousy roads of that era, loads of potholes, went through a set of shocks in 23 000km ! I had it for 3 years until I left Zambia. My daughter had a Hyundai i10 auto here in S Africa, now has a Kia Picanto auto in UK, basically the same car, both good cars, value for money.

Goodness I’d actually forgot these cars existed! Thanks for sharing - and a big thanks to Matt 😀

Unusual conversion but why not? Love it. Thanks for posting Ian. I need to do a catch up👍

Happy Monday from IRELAND!!! Hello Aussies!! Thanks Ian for the vid.😉👏👏

Rover V8, the go-to engine in the UK for adding joy to an old car. Brilliant.

Nice cars Ian. The V8 is lovely. Great road test and video 👍👍👍

Loving the beige! And the V8 sound on the other car! This video sums up all that is great about Hubnut!

Watched and liked as always, I once owned a Hyundai X2 GSI for a few years then got a Daihatsu Charade GTI. The sound of the Rover V8 engine sounded amazing

Thanks for the superb attention to detail on the wipers. I will think of you next time I need to use mine.

Amazing !! 😮 놀랍네요!! from South korea 🇰🇷

We never had the Stellar in Germany as Hyundai started here in 1991, but i absolutely like the typical Giugiaro-style, quite a timeless design.

I haven't seen one of those in decades. I have always liked those.

Yeah well done matt what a lovely noise from England

I remember seeing Hyundai Stellar ads in the newspapers in the early-mid 80s which showed a picture of a jelly mould and a slogan saying something like "disappointed with the new Ford Sierra? Look at the Stellar instead." It seemed to make perfect sense given the comparative costs, customer backup and trim levels etc.

LOT OF THANKS FOR SHOWING THE TWO DIFFERENT STELLAR....

When I worked for FIAT in the late 80's two executives visited a Hyundai dealer to discuss them taking over the Fiat franchise. As they were leaving their new Croma broke down and the dealer lent them his Sonata to return home. Their problem was made worse by the fact that they could not call out the local Fiat dealer as that would have begged the question " What are you doing visiting other dealers on my patch."

A Rover V8 in a Hyundai Stellar,what madness! You certainly looked like you were enjoying yourself. Great Vid.

To which Matt asked "Ian, where'd half my fuel go??" Happy Canada Day all!!

I used to have a Rangy with the 3.9L rover V8 and EFi on LPG. That was the first and only V8 i ever owned. Silky smooth power delivery but it did drank a lot of fuel!

Your best video yet ian! Watching now for a 3rd time 👍

I had a C reg one about 15 years ago and i loved it. i'll email you a pic ian. Nice video

Nice one with rover V8. Think anything with a rover v8 is good. Another good video mate ✌✌

This channel excites me more than Jay Leno's. And I would choose the Mitsubishi-powered Stellar, just because of its brown-beige interiour. My first car in 1986 was a 1978 Mitsubishi Sapporo with brown-beige interiour.

We need more people like him to show us how these cars are these days, just love his vids

Fantastic! I love cars that have an 'ordniary' look on the outside, yet they're 'hiding' something good under the bonnet!

I'll be watching as soon as I'm home from work 👍🏻

There are three Hyundai Stella's on top of each other in my local breakers. It's such a fulfilling sight - the best way to view them in any light.

Yes v8 heaven must be said. My dad's 52' Studabaker commander had a v8 that would push everyone back into the seats. This was especially true when he was annoyed. He floored it turned on the overdrive and it was like a roller coaster. Fun video Ian. Rich and carnivorous kitty cats LA.Calif USA. Your fans.

Lockdown catchup Ian. Most satisfactory. I clearly remember being most impressed with this 'new' Hyundai Motor Company back in the 80's. Still look good to tthis day, if and when you ever see one now.

Saw my first HubNut sticker yesterday. Green Rover 216 at the West Cornwall Motor Show.

When first looking inside standard version thought it was a montego the second one never looked just listened to to that beautiful sound what an engine 👍

Loved the dashboard on the standard car, it looked like a giant Caramac!

I really miss my V8 Hyundai Coupé that I sold about 5 years ago. It wasn't fast from a standing start but but was lovely when you dropped down a gear or two and floored it, especially after changing the standard panel filter for a K&N panel filter the noise was magical.

Fab,,,I used to work in American spares,,,sold Edelbrock and often recommended Holley 390cfm carb,,Crane 214 fast road cam,,Offenauser dual plane inlet,Real Steel HV0001 oil pump upgrade and Accel dual point distributor,,,also Accel plug leads and NGK leads,,,gosh it's close to 40 years ago and I still remember it like yesterday,,,Thanx for a great vid,,, with the V8 a nice alternative to the Maserati,,,,

I've been looking forward to thus Video Ian. There's something about these cars that I've always liked. The Ford Granadaesq styling being one attraction. The V8 is bonkers!

awesome sounding V8, and great comentary

Wow, you're moving up n the car world. Proof? A Rolls Royce Ghost commercial played before your video.

Top review. Nice work 😎

FYI: I just got my HubNut mug in the mail. Hole at the top, none at the bottom. It’s perfect!

I don't think you can ever get tired of the noise of a V8!

Gotta love a V8! I bet it’s surprised a few people at the traffic lights😂 Thanks for the video!👍

Love the v8 ! What an unusual application. Great fun !

Hyundai Stellar with a Rover V8! Quite remarkable. A truly stellar review Mr Hubnut, I enjoyed it immensely. Hoping you have done a review on one of those epic Pug 305 estates glimpsed tantalisingly in your previous Toyota pleasure wagon review?

Thanks Ian, good vid, good luck with elli

The series 1 dash looks very Honda to me. The V8 conversion could be an Australian spec version from a parallel universe!

We never got these in the states. They did have them in Canada and being as I lived in Florida, we got a lot of Canadian tourists. I was fascinated whenever I saw one of these. The “HD” logo on the steering wheel looks like it belongs on a truck or tractor. The later all beige interior car reminds me of a friend’s 88 Hyundai Excel. A very slow car that was fun to abuse on curvy roads

Seem to remember these Hyundais being slagged off by the mainstream British motoring press when they were new but I was always intrigued by them. Eventually bought a new Hyundai Lantra in the nineties, which we took on several holidays to Italy without any problems at all. The Stellar's looks have aged well and it's nice to see the survivors. I prefer the original interior and that V8 is great. Thanks

Greeting to all on this Monday 1 July. Have a nice day all. Cheers from AUSTRALIA.

I ran a 06 plate Hyundai Elantra 2.0 GSX diesel for 12 months cracking car had heated leather , aircon sunroof leccy windows all round. It was 10 years old when i bought it and it never let me down

Two very nice cars, great review!

Fabulous 80s beige-ness in the later car - love Japanese 80s interior styling. The Rover V8 is a wonderful modification to this lovely car - hours of fun to be had there :)

What a lovely looking pair, that V8 looks like it can shift! I do love that beige interior though.

Can't wait till you get to Australia Ian, some vehicles may have you on high alert!

Both Stella's look good and well preserved

I'll be coming back to this video for the sound of that V8 :-D

Oh yes, always bringing our feed of automotive Tat

That V8 sounds spectacular!

that V8 Stellar is fantastic

I bet these 2 cars started out in life as mini cabs as most Hyundai Stella's did lol great video as always

That V8 sounds awesome.

Bloomin' marvellous! The British equivalent of an LS-swap? To think of the stick that "High-and-dry" got when I was a kid and these cars were new...

In the United States, we never got the Stellar model. Hyundai cars imported here at that time were always small and simple. It wasn't until much later that Hyundai moved more upscale with the Azera, Genesis and Equis.

Awesome V8 and like all the gauges on the dash. Lack of gauges on most cars nowadays only on the performance cars.

I was admiring the oatmeal interior, and you chimed in with the 'b' word.

What very nice motor cars, both. The sound of that Rover V8 though!

How to transform a middle of the road piece of Korean corporate blandness into a BEAST.

The Hyundai Stellar, more popular as a taxi than a private car. I remember when many taxis in my town were Stellars in the late 1980s.

Sounds great!

Stellar video!

Gosh indeed, sounds lovely

Not seen one of these in years remember them being quite popular as taxi's, the V8 is certainly very delicious :)

Hi Ian,what a review,not one but two Hyundai Stellas,one with a V8 lump and a standard engine,both the same colour as well,i do like the sound of a V8 though 😀.

Lovely cars both of them! I really need to buy something of this vintage as a classic runaround, used sparingly, insured for 1,000 miles a year perhaps.

I do have a soft spot the Stellar. Personally think it's a good looking and underated car. I can't help thinking what would've happened if Ford had gone with it. A 3 litre V6 Ghia would've been interesting 🙂

That sound ! With the V8 this car is now close to a 80s Maserati Quattroporte :D

Yep - gotta love a "Q" car as we used to call them. And in true "how Hubnut?", last night I spotted a Nissan Prairie...