1. Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro (5 and 8 nm)

In our opinion, the best steering wheel for Gran Turismo is the Fanatec GT DD Prothe officially licensed GT bundle from German sim-racing peripherals manufacturer Fanatec. Here, Sony drew up the specifications and Fanatec took care of developing and manufacturing the steering wheel.

The basis of this bundle is the CSL DD with 5 or 8 nm of torque, depending on the version you choose. To put it simply: it’s light years ahead of the other two bundles I’ve just presented, in every respect. Maximum torque is 5 or 8 nm, force feedback is powerful, precise, immersive and highly communicative. On GT7, you’ll feel everything the car you’re driving does, down to the smallest detail.

As for the steering wheel, it’s a notch below what we’re used to seeing with Fanatec. Ergonomics are good, but build quality leaves a little to be desired. The structure is made entirely of plastic, and looks cheap on a bundle that costs a bit. You’ve got a small OLED screen and a RevLED just above it, buttons that are easily accessible without your hands leaving the steering wheel, a fairly sober design combining black and silver (even if it’s all plastic), 2 small paddles on the rear and the QR1 Lite. By the way, I’d advise you to choose the 5 nm version if you’re going to keep this plastic QR, otherwise switch to the metal one for the 8 nm version.

The pedals are standard CSL Pedals: 2 pedals and springs for resistance. It’s OK in normal use, one better than the other two, and you can also upgrade it with a kit. Load Cell.

In terms of price, the Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro can be exchanged for 700 € for the 5 nm version and 800€ for the 8 nm version.

Read our full review of Fanatec GT DD PRO

2. Fanatec GT DD Extreme

It’s about time Fanatec did something to win back its fans and sim-racing market share. The brand has long been absent from the mid-range Direct Drive bases, those developing between 12 and 16 nm of torque. For a good number of racers, these 12 and 16 nm of torque represent the sweet spot of sim-racing: not too powerful to rip your arm off in the event of an accident on the track, but has enough in the belly to say to god to clipping. And it’s for this reason that many sim-racing brands have bet big on this segment, which by the way is highly prized by experienced riders.

So this new GT DD Extreme uses a Direct Drive ClubSport DD+ base that develops 15 nm of constant torque. Some might ask, what is a constant couple? Well, it’s quite simple: the base can maintain its full power for practically the entire time it’s in use. In other words, if you push it to the max, it will always develop 15 nm of torque, something that cannot be said of the competition, who often have bases with peak power (max for a short period).

This bundle also includes a new Gran Turismo steering wheel, with a slightly different design from the one it replaces, as well as premium materials. If you’re interested, you’ll find it on the Fanatec website for €1,300 at the moment. Please note that you’ll only get the base and steering wheel in this bundle, so you’ll also need to pick up a pedalboard to complete any self-respecting sim-racing setup.

Read our full review of Fanatec GT DD EXTREME

3. The Thrustmaster Т-248

The Thrustmaster Т-248 is a very recent steering wheel, or bundle rather, released just for Next-Gen consoles, namely the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The T-248 has a 28 cm-diameter wheel with a plastic frame.

In terms of force feedback, the T-248 uses a belt-and-gear-driven Burshless motor, placing it between Thrustmaster’s T-150 and T-300. For feel, it’s a step up from Logitech’s G92/G923 (which we’ll look at next) as Thrustmaster has mastered this force feedback technology quite well. You’ve got a torque that’s a hair over 4 nm, and again, that’s okay.

The T-248’s design is sober, with a black steering wheel, a few red accents and a red band at the top. There’s also a fairly good-sized screen for the range, displaying some telemetry data. Ergonomics are good on the T-248, with buttons easily accessible when your hands are busy piloting. The paddles are, however, a hair smaller than Logitech’s. But I’m not going to complain too much about that.

For the pedals, it’s a different story, as it’s the T3PM with 3 pedals. This aluminum peripheral is sturdy enough for the toughest of us. The box includes 2 brake springs: a soft one and a harder one, giving you a much better feel than Logitech cranksets.

Let’s move on to the prize. The T-248 retails for around €300 on special offer, and €350 off special offer. As far as I’m concerned, if you want to get a good feel for Gran Turismo 7 and a high level of immersion (without paying the price of a Direct Drive), I’d opt for the T-248.

Read our full review of the Thrustmaster T248

4. Logitech G Pro Wheel + Racing Pedals

We continue with a new peripheral, and the first in the range for Logitechthe G Pro. What is the G Pro? Well, that’s Logitech’s answer to Fanatec and company for the basics. Direct Drive and Load Cellpedals.

The design of this steering wheel is just perfect: sober, aluminum, leather, black and a few blue accents. It’s simply gorgeous as far as I’m concerned, and I’m not surprised, because Logitech has always known how to make beautiful peripherals. The finish is excellent, whether for the steering wheel, pedals or base.

Speaking of base, this one is Direct Drive with a maximum torque of 11 nm. It’s more than perfect for sim-racing Gran Turismo 7, and you certainly won’t be pushing it too hard. The sensations are there, as is the realism. Force feedback is precise, stable and won’t catch you off guard. However, the TrueForce does a bit too much for my taste, with a lot of intrusions on the vibration level. Some like it, some don’t, including me.

The pedals are made of Load Celland provides an excellent braking feel. The brake pedal is hard and communicating, and the other two can be adjusted with spring kits. In itself, it’s a well-made and, above all, well-developed product that will compete with the big names in the game.

Let’s move on to the price. So, it’s expensive, I’ll tell you right now: the steering wheel + base can be exchanged for 1100 €and pedals 390 €for a total of almost 1500 €. It’s still a lot of money, but it’s premium too. So…

5. The Logitech G29/G923

Logitech is a major player in sim-racing, both in its early days and today. It has to be said that the Swiss company knows a thing or two about gaming, with keyboards and mice that are considered by many to be among the best in the world.

So, the Logitech G29 is a rather entry-level bundle from the manufacturer that is compatible with Sony’s consoles, namely the PS4 and PS5. This bundle includes a base with gear-driven motor, a 28 cm-diameter flat-bottomed flywheel and pedals. On paper, the motor’s force feedback technology is rather old-fashioned, but it actually works quite well.

Sensations are decent, given that the base model produces less than 4 nm of torque. It’s not much, but it’s enough for a racer who just wants to add a good layer of immersion to his Gran Turismo 7 games. On the steering wheel, you’ll find a RevLED, 2 large paddles and several buttons, all within easy reach. Since the wheel is quite small, ergonomics are excellent: all controls are within easy reach.

As for the pedals, they’ll do for a while. Don’t expect to feel any great sensations with it, because you won’t get many. It’s just a spring on the pedals with end stops, that’s all.

For the G923it’s just an upgrade from the G29 with improved software and a more refined implementation of the TrueForceLogitech’s immersive technology. Let’s move on to the prize. The G29 costs around €290, and the G923 around €320. That’s fine for beginners and riders who don’t have a lot of time to invest in sim-racing.

Read our full review of the Fanatec G29

Read our full review of the Fanatec G923