After evaluating the direct drive wheels and pedals from some of the most renowned established players in sim racing – Fanatec, Thrustmaster, and Logitech – I desired to explore something from a fresher participant in this domain, Moza.
This Chinese company is notably recognized for its entry-level R5 Bundle, which offers a potent 5.5nm direct drive wheelbase along with a matching wheel and pedals at a rather reasonable £459. For perspective, that’s merely £100 to £200 more than popular gear-driven and belt-driven racing wheels, such as Logitech’s G923 and Thrustmaster’s T300. Nevertheless, the superior DD technology should result in significantly swifter and more detailed force feedback and an overall enhanced driving experience.
Moza was willing to send out this PC-exclusive bundle – with a couple of additional upgrades – and when Logitech reached out to provide a £259 PlaySeat Challenge X folding racing cockpit, I had a complete racing setup for approximately £700 with the potential to outperform its price point.
- Moza R5 Bundle Review
- Extras: Performance Kit for R5 Bundle + SR-P Lite Clutch Pedal
- PlaySeat Challenge X Review
- In Combination: R5 Bundle + Challenge X
- Wrapping Up
Moza R5 Bundle Review
The Moza R5 Bundle is one of the most economical combinations of direct drive wheelbase, wheel, and pedals in the market, currently being sold for approximately £459/$459 with a proper metal desk mount included. It compares favorably to the (originally €600, now €700) Fanatec GT DD Pro, although Fanatec’s more affordable CSL DD Ready2Race bundle (which comes with a simpler PC-only rim and no desk mount) is available for €400.
I tested the Moza R5 over a period of two weeks in an exhaustive series of single-player and multiplayer F1 23 sessions – plus a few stints in Dirt Rally 2.0 and Project Cars 3. Overall, I discovered that this is a decent setup – you obtain more powerful and detailed feedback from the 5.5nm wheelbase than with a less expensive belt-driven or gear-driven system, making it simpler to determine the traction limits and regain control of the car if you accidentally exceed that limit. (These direct drive systems also tend to be quieter than cheaper alternatives, which can be so loud that you wouldn’t want to use them in a shared space.) The Moza wheelbase is also smaller than the CSL DD, which might facilitate mounting in some situations, but the Fanatec wheelbase can be side-mounted straight out of the box, which is also convenient. There’s not much to differentiate these two in terms of force feedback, but the Fanatec option can be enhanced from 5nm to 8nm with a more robust power supply.
The ES racing wheel is also one of the better entry-level wheels I’ve tested, with a 280mm diameter and a considerable number of well-positioned buttons (that, however, have a somewhat inexpensive feel when pressed). Similarly, the slightly spongy-feeling paddle shifters don’t feel as precise as even those on the Fanatec GT DD Pro. Nevertheless, the wheel appears to be well-constructed, with brushed aluminium used for the centre, a faux-leather covering for the D-shaped perimeter, and a metal quick release that should withstand prolonged use.
