Forza Horizon is one of the world’s most popular video game sagas, and has been for over 10 years on the Xbox and PC platforms. Published by Microsoft and developed by Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios, it’s more of an arcade game, or even a slightly sim-arcade game.
The basic principle is quite simple: you have dozens of cars to choose from, in an open-world environment where you can race, wander, admire nature and landscapes, and pretty much do anything and everything. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, this is the main selling point of this sim-racing title: you do what you want in the game, listening to a good soundtrack, and customizing your cars at the same time.
The latest opus is Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021 on Xbox and PC. The environment in which you evolve is that of Mexico and its various landscapes (coast, mountains, desert, etc.). And to play it with immersion, even if Forza Horizon 5 is an arcade title, it’s best to have rig sim-racing, as the latter is superbly well supported.
In this article, I’m going to show you the best steering wheels, with Direct Drive bases too, that you can use on Forza Horizon 5.
#1 : Fanatec Forza Motorsport
⭐ Score : 9.9/10
✅ Direct Drive on Xbox
“We love it for its excellent value, ideal for medium budgets.”
#2 : Fanatec CSL WRC
⭐ Score : 9.7/10
✅ Designed for professionals
“We love its ultra-realistic driving sensations”.
#3 : Moza R5
⭐ Score : 9.6/10
✅ An excellent PC bundle
“We love it forits strength and durability.”
#1 Fanatec Forza Motorsport Bundle
Compatibility: Xbox and PC
This is an officially licensed Forza Motorsport steering wheel, you know, the simulation edition of the Forza saga. I think this steering wheel is aesthetically very beautiful, minimalist and sober, and it will go well with all sim-racing setups.
With a diameter of 33 cm and a flat bottom, this steering wheel is perfect for all Forza Horizon 5 races, and I’d even say it’s overkill for this title. The structure is in brushed aluminum, with leather trim all around. At the rear of the steering wheel is the ClubSport Universal Button Hub, which integrates all Xbox controls, as well as a small LED screen and 2 paddles, in addition to the QR1 in basic configuration. This hub is very similar to those used in GT cars, but also in Audi R8s.
Ergonomics are excellent, with buttons very close to your hands. What’s more, the steering wheel’s 33 cm diameter makes it almost as easy to grip as a car wheel. Pricing is currently €680 on the Fanatec website, with the CSL DD 5nm base and CSL pedalboard. For Forza Horizon 5, it’s still an overkill option, but if you’re sim-racing other titles, it’s definitely a possibility.
#2 Fanatec CSL WRC Bundle
Compatibility: Xbox and PC
Next up is an inexpensive steering wheel from Fanatec: the CSL Elite WRC. The wheel is officially WRC licensed, with a design I really like. The structure is in brushed aluminum, with alcantara all around the steering wheel. With a diameter of 30 cm, this steering wheel is perfect for cruising the roads of Forza Horizon 5, but can also help you achieve excellent times on all the game’s events.
In terms of controls, we have all the Xbox buttons, with 2 extra-large paddles on the back in bright orange. The ergonomics of this WRC steering wheel are very good, as the buttons are on the sides of the faceplate.
For the base, I suggest you pair it with a CSL DD with 5 or 8 nm of torque for excellent racing feel, and realistic, immersive force feedback. The 5nm CSL WRC bundle is currently selling for around 480€ on the Fanatec website. I say the price is right for a quality product.
#3 Moza R5 Bundle
Compatibility: PC
I’d now like to turn to an option from Moza Racing, the R5 bundle. It includes the Moza ES, an entry-level steering wheel with an aluminum frame and leather trim. The diameter here is 28 cm, which is a hair smaller than the Fanatec flywheels I presented above.
The design is sober, combining the Gun Metal color on a large part of the product. The controls are spread out along the sides of the steering wheel, making them easy to reach in the middle of a race, especially the big buttons at the bottom. At the rear, there are 2 good-sized paddles for shifting gears. However, they’re not magnetic, but that won’t affect your performance on Forza Horizon 5. ES ergonomics are quite good, even if the steering wheel is relatively small.
As for the base, I recommend the R5 or R9, which develop 5.5 and 9 nm of torque respectively. And as far as the platform is concerned, the standard version of the ES is only compatible with PCs, like the R5 and R9. However, you have an Xbox-specific version which is virtually the same, but uses less premium materials.
And finally, the price. The Moza ES steering wheel alone sells for €150, and the complete bundle with the R5 for around €500. Frankly, the price is perfect, but the brand’s ecosystem limits the use of its products to PC only, except for the R3 bundle, which is Xbox compatible.
#4 Moza R9 Bundle
Compatibility: PC
Moza’s second entry is the Moza R9 bundle with CS V2P steering wheel. The steering wheel is 33 cm in diameter, entirely round, with an aluminum alloy structure and leather all around. It’s a beautiful steering wheel, and the Gun Metal gray color is used on the faceplate.
Controls are well catered for, with buttons on the sides of the steering wheel and a kind of Back-Plate at the rear. It looks very racing, as does the 3-color RevLED. At the rear, there are two huge magnetic paddles for easy shifting, although I would have liked more. But then, this is Forza Horizon 5, so you won’t really need more than 2 pallets.
For the base, I suggest a Moza R9 with this steering wheel and Forza Horizon 5, which is more than enough for racing or cruising in a Ferrari cabriolet.
Let’s finish with the price. The CS V2P retails for €299 and €730 with the R5 base included, which isn’t all that expensive, especially when you consider Fanatec’s catalog and its official Porsche and other licensed steering wheels, which are sometimes outrageously expensive.
#5 Logitech G923 et Thrustmaster T248
Compatibility: Xbox and PC
These are complete bundles with base, steering wheel and pedals. I chose the G923 for the simple reason that it’s not very expensive, it’s brand new, and it’s also Xbox compatible.
As for the steering wheel, it’s beautiful, simple and premium. The structure is aluminum, and we’ve got leather all around the steering wheel. The controls are well spaced out on the steering wheel, with two rear paddles that are not magnetic either, given the price of the bundle.
The base develops just under 3 nm of torque, which is decent for Forza Horizon 5. What’s more, this bundle comes with a pedalboard, so you can play the game straight away without having to complete your setup. Price-wise, the Logitech website lists it at €430, but you can easily find it for around €300 on Amazon or any other online retailer.
For the T248, it’s pretty much the same, only with a much less premium build quality than the G923. Thrustmaster’s bundle is all plastic, but the base is a hair more powerful in terms of torque (in the 4.2 nm range) and slightly better in terms of feel. The motor uses a belt drive system, a technology well mastered by Thrustmaster.
And finally, the price. The T248 is listed at €400 on the manufacturer’s website, but can be found for much less on Amazon and company websites, also in the €300 range. As far as I’m concerned, these two bundles (G923 and T248) are perfect for drivers who want to have fun on Forza Horizon 5 on a tight budget. If you’re looking for a good steering wheel for sim-racing when you’re new to Forza Horizon, then just pick up the ones listed above. However, the bill will be higher, as you’ll need a Direct Drive base and pedalboard too.
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