The Xbox platform always continues to innovate, with a blend of purebred sim racing titles and casual driving and racing games which focus on the wider entertainment experience.
The technology that goes into sim racing wheels for Xbox is no different, with the goalposts moving tremendously in recent years. With that in mind, here are our top pics for the best Xbox wheels on the market today.
The Best Xbox Racing Wheels
| Xbox Wheel | Category/Price | Pros | Cons |
| Moza R3 bundle | Entry-level | Direct drive wheelbase. Good value for the set of wheelbase, wheel and pedals | 3.9 Nm direct drive output is quite low. The wheel and pedal are basic, and you may need optional accessories |
| Fanatec CSL DD | Entry-level | Exceptional force feedback. Compatible with the Fanatec ecosystem. | Older design architecture. Does not always include a wheel rim. |
| Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race | Mid-range | Direct drive wheelbase. Set includes pedals with a load cell braking system and a digital dashboard | Quite expensive for a mid-range wheel – other options may have better value for money. The ecosystem is limited compared to competitors |
| Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel | Top-end | Top-end 11Nm direct drive force feedback. Dual-clutch, magnetic gear-shift paddles | Expensive. The ecosystem is limited compared to competitors |
| Fanatec ClubSport DD+ | Top-end | The latest sim-racing technology. Part of the wider Fanatec ecosystem | Wheelbase is expensive on its own. Add-ons can be expensive |
Moza R3 bundle
The Moza R3 is Moza Racing’s entry-level direct drive wheel that provides everything you need to get started in sim racing for a reasonable price on Xbox. This bundle offers good value for those looking to enter the world of sim racing or upgrade their current setup.
The 280mm steering wheel includes 22 buttons. This should give you ample options for functions like flash, pit limiter, wiper, different IRS states, and a radio button. The wheel also features the typical ABXY button setup for Xbox, as it’s compatible with both PC and Xbox platforms. The wheel included in the R3 bundle comes with shifters but not a clutch, similar to Moza’s other wheels. The quick-release system remains the same, ensuring easy compatibility with other Moza products.
The wheelbase packs 3.9 Nm of force. This makes it ideal for setups with limited space, but force feedback may lack detail compared to more powerful direct-drive wheelbases.
The pedals in the bundle are all-metal, which is impressive at this price point, where plastic is still common. They also feature anti-slip rubber pads, making them suitable if you don’t have a rig yet. If you find the brake pedal too soft, Moza offers an upgrade kit for a stiffer feel.
In terms of performance, the Moza R3 wheelbase offers a smooth and quiet operation. While it doesn’t compare in strength to higher-end models with 12 or 16 Nm of force, it still provides good feedback, especially for its size and price.
Fanatec CSL DD
The Fanatec CSL DD is a 5NM entry-level Direct Drive wheel. Unlike traditional wheels, which use either gears or belts or a combination of the two to recreate the driving sensation, Direct Drive wheels use motors to give you the most realistic feeling from your steering wheel.
The CSL DD is an excellent introduction to Fanatec’s ecosystem, which is currently only focused on Direct Drive technology. You won’t find another Direct Drive wheel as affordable as the CSL DD that is compatible with Xbox systems. Starting at under $350 for the 5Nm wheelbase, it’s an excellent introduction to high-grade technology.
It also comes as an 8NM option for slightly more, thanks to the Boost Kit 180, a powerful 180W power supply that unlocks the full performance of the CSL direct drive motor.
Turtle Beach Velocity One Race
Turtle Beach, a well-known brand in gaming peripherals, has entered the sim racing market with its VelocityOne Race wheel and pedal set, aiming to compete with established names like Fanatec, Thrustmaster, Moza, and the recently released Logitech offerings.
At first glance, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race is impressive. The wheel features hand-stitched leather, and the wheelbase has an aggressive design, highlighted by a small screen dubbed the “Digital Race Management Display,” which allows users to change wheel settings on the fly. The wheelbase also includes a control unit with an array of buttons and switches that can be attached to either side.
For its price point, the VelocityOne Race offers an impressive array of features, including a direct drive wheelbase with up to 7.2 Nm of torque, 2,600 degrees of wheel rotation, pedals with a load cell braking system, a digital dashboard that provides real-time race telemetry, and a modular control unit for extra customisation.
The digital dashboard is particularly noteworthy, allowing users to change settings like torque, force feedback, wheel rotation, pedal sensitivity, lighting, and button mapping on the fly. The wheel and pedals also feature customisable lighting.
Logitech G PRO Racing Wheel
The PRO direct-drive wheel is the most advanced and top-end piece of sim racing gear offered by Logitech.
The steering wheel is classic Logitech – a 30 cm D-shaped aluminium wheel with partially perforated and smooth leather. Those who have used a Logitech wheel before will certainly recognise the style. The magnetic shifters feel good, but not exceptional, and while the rotating encoders are decent, they too don’t stand out.
The wheelbase generates a respectable 11 Nm of torque, which is at the higher end for sim racing. It also features a quick-release system made entirely of metal, which is easy to use and seems resistant to wear and tear.
Another notable feature is the TrueForce technology, which converts game telemetry and sound into haptic feedback. This was introduced with the Logitech G923, but it suffered a bit due to the older gear-driven technology of that wheelbase. Now, with direct drive, the TrueForce shines. However, be careful not to set the TrueForce too high, or you’ll lose the feedback details in the noise.
The big downside is that the ecosystem is limited, with only a racing adapter for older pedals and a shifter. There are no other steering wheels, shifters, or pedals available, which is disappointing.
Fanatec ClubSport DD+
Fanatec have long been the market-leaders in Direct Drive technology. Their DD1 and DD2 machines led the way in popularising DD wheels, whilst the CSL DD created the market for budget-friendly entry-level access points. The Fanatec ClubSport DD+ is the cutting edge, a compact product that builds on decades of software and hardware development as well as innovations brought in by new Fanatec owner Corsair.
The latest technology updates to the ClubSport DD+ include FullForce, which minimises latency and means that you feel the feedback instantly, and the QR2 which allows you to switch wheel rims without restarting the game. That can be especially handy from an immersion perspective if you jump from a formula-style car to a car that runs with a round rim, which you might find yourself doing in some of the leading sim racing titles on Xbox.
And just because you’ve bought the wheelbase doesn’t mean that the story ends there. Fanatec is always developing its products post-launch, with all ClubSport DD+ owners recently receiving a 3Nm boost from 15Nm to 18Nm of peak torque. This makes the ClubSport DD+ one of the most powerful wheelbases on the Xbox market today.
