LOGITECH G PRO RACING WHEEL

Our rating: 9.6/10

A long time ago, Logitech has always operated in the entry-level sim-racing market, mainly with peripherals for beginners and racers who just want better immersion than on joysticks. The motors on Logitech bases using gear-drive technology are certainly reliable, but not very communicative.

For some time now, Logitech has wanted to break into the segment above, to titillate the Fanatec, Simagic and other Moza Racing. Cependant, ces marques sont actives sur leur marché depuis quelques temps, sauf pour Moza qui a vu le jour il y a à peine 3 ans, et elles possèdent toutes des bases Direct Drive. Mais l’histoire risque fort bien de changer avec le nouveau bundle : le G Pro Racing Wheel.

Logitech’s first foray into the world of Direct Drive has been eagerly awaited for some time, and the result is surprising to say the least. In what follows, we take a look at this bundle and see how it stacks up against the competition.

Main and technical features of the bundle

• Direct Drive base delivers 11 nm of constant torque
• Brushed aluminum steering wheel with 30 cm diameter
• Premium materials
• Load Cell crankset sold separately
• Compatible with Xbox, Playstation and PC as a pair
• Weight 8.5 kg for steering wheel (1.5) and base (7kg)
• 4 steering wheel-mounted paddles
• 14 orders in all
• Small display on base providing telemetry

Design

So, let’s start with the design of the G Pro Racing Wheel. As far as I’m concerned, it’s magnificent, whether it’s the wheel, the crankset or the base. The wheel comes in two tones: black and grey. The black is all over the leather on the base, and the gray is on the brushed aluminum faceplate. It’s this marriage of colors that really reinforces the device’s premium look.

The base is entirely black, with just a red button on the front and the True Force logo on the back. Otherwise, its design is sober, but frankly, it’s a big potato in terms of dimensions, and this point needs to be reworked by Logitech on future versions of the G Pro Racing Wheel.

As for the crankset, if you take it of course, its design is very similar to those found in the G923s, but this time it’s much more qualitative.

Customized assembly

Even though the G Pro Racing Wheel comes with a furniture clip, I wouldn’t recommend using it if you’re going to be doing high-level sim-racing. On fun titles like Forza Horizon, yes, you can use it. But on anything more serious, avoid it, as it may damage your furniture, unless it’s made of metal.

Otherwise, you have mounting points on the bottom of the chainstay and bottom bracket, and the G Pro Racing Wheel should be compatible with most chassis and other brackets available on the market. Mounting is from the bottom, and you have the option of using the clamp on a chassis, by the way.

As for the steering wheel, it incorporates a Quick Release that looks very similar to those used by Moza Racing and Simagic, and must surely be based on the D1-Spec by the way. This allows you to swap steering wheels quickly, as well as ensuring an excellent connection with the driveshaft.

Manufacturing and finishing

The finish is simply premium. The steering wheel has an aluminum structure, with a brushed faceplate. Leather is used all around the steering wheel, with black stitching. It’s very premium, comparable to what you’ll find at Fanatec or Simagic. Logitech has already shown the world that the Swiss brand can produce premium products, notably with the G923. But this is clearly 1 notch above other Logitech products.

As for the chainstay and crankset, the same theme applies: metal with plastic, and excellent build quality and finish. The brand’s experience is evident on the G Pro Racing Wheel.

Getting started with the bundle

The G Pro Racing Wheel is 30 cm in diameter, with a flat bottom. The grip is excellent, with controls distributed around the perimeter of the faceplate. The buttons are slim and click superbly, and the same applies to the knobs and paddles on the rear.

Speaking of which, there are 4 of them, and they’re also magnetic for the gears. The lower ones can be used for Launch Control, clutches and all the rest. By the way, the magnets are a good size, and are also at a good distance from the steering wheel, which makes them much easier to use in the middle of a race. The same applies to all the steering wheel buttons, which are very close to your hands.

Sensations during play

I’ll now move on to the in-game feel of the G Pro Racing Wheel. First and foremost, this test was carried out on the PC, because on consoles, whether Xbox or Playstation, the sensations are different, even too different on Microsoft’s console.

As far as settings are concerned, you won’t have to fiddle with the Direct Drive baseplate so much to get it to work properly. The default settings, as well as the preset ones, will be perfect for most riders. The DD motor, with its 11 nm of torque, provides excellent force feedback effects, whether fine, light or heavy, as well as precision in torque and power delivery. Quite frankly, it’s an excellent motor for sim-racing, and a match for any other in its power class.

However, the only blemish I can find on an otherwise near-perfect picture is True Force, the evolution of Force Feedback. On paper, it’s supposed to provide finer effects for greater immersion. But in reality, the vibrations are poorly placed, with effects that are often too fine and too smooth. On some sim-racing titles, it’s creamy, but on Assetto Corsa, for example, it blurs the experience.

As for the Load Cell crankset, all in all it’s quite decent. The gas pedal and clutch are ultra-light pedals under your feet. As for the brake, you can adjust it by swapping the spring and elastomer, and the feel underfoot is really quite good, worthy of taking on the competition.

Compatibility

Like other Logitech bundles, the G Pro Racing Wheel is compatible with consoles (PC/Xbox, PC/PS) as well as PC only. As for sim-racing titles, the list is not only long, but also comprehensive, with support for games that are part arcade, part sim-arcade and part simulation. Logitech has played its cards right this time.

Value for money

The G Pro Racing Wheel’s biggest shortcoming, then, is its price tag, and that’s what makes it so good value for money. The standard bundle is priced at €1,100, and the crankset costs €390, giving us a total price of almost €1,500. Honestly, this is one of the worst value-for-money bundles on the market today, far ahead of the Fanatec F1 ClubSport DD+ bundle.

My verdict

The Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel remains an excellent bundle to consider on PC, and even on consoles if you’re a hybrid gamer. Sensations are realistic, build quality is top-notch and integration with the majority of sim-racing titles is well thought-out.

However, its biggest flaw remains Logitech’s asking price. 1500 € to get the whole bundle is just too much for what you get in the end. Admittedly, it’s more powerful than an 8nm CSL DD with Load Cell pedalboard, and it’s also more generous in terms of detail and feel. But the price difference is too great, and on consoles, you’ll get much better settings with Fanatec’s bases than with the G Pro Racing Wheel. For the same price, you can even upgrade to a 15 nm ClubSport DD+ with Load Cell steering wheel and crankset.

For Logitech fans, the G Pro Racing Wheel is a Go-To. But for the rest of you, I’d advise you to do your homework and get the bundle that’s right for you.