Sim-racing is a discipline we all love, and we’d also like to have the best possible configurations. For some racers, this is quite possible, especially those with a sizeable budget. And for others, the task is rather difficult, especially when you see peripherals that happily exceed €1,000.

Since there are several players in the sim-racing world, peripheral manufacturers can afford to focus on a specific market segment, such as entry-level or mid-range. Logitech, a manufacturer with decades of experience in the game, offers products aimed primarily at the mid-range, with its G range of steering wheels.

But the Swiss manufacturer doesn’t stop at the steering wheel, and also offers a shifter, the G Driving Force Shifter. Unlike its cousins (steering wheels, pedals, bases), Logitech’s shifter is rather entry-level. The aim here is to offer a fairly convincing product that enhances realism and immersion. In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to this shifter, tell you about its strengths and weaknesses, and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical features of the gearshift lever

• Gear lever with 6 speeds and reverse gear
• Non-contact magnetic sensor
• H-Pattern gearbox only
• Connection via 9-pin plug and optional USB adapter
• Leather finish
• Compatible with Playstation, Xbox and PC

Logitech G Driving Force design

Logitech ‘s G Driving Force Shifter clearly announces its intentions: to be an inexpensive shifter that’s perfect for sim-racing enthusiasts and beginners. Once you’ve got that in mind, you’ll see this shifter in a whole new light.

The exterior design of the G Driving Force Shifter is quite attractive, and reminds me of the gear lever on a Dodge Viper. The lever is short, with a round knob and no markings on it, except for the “H”. I quite like the look of it, but the overall quality leaves something to be desired. In order to achieve the aggressive price it’s sold at, the G Driving Force Shifter uses plastic for virtually everything.

However, the leather slightly enhances the look of the device, making it look a little more premium, and the gearshift is rather successful in terms of design. In any case, I find the design sober and successful. As for the quality and nobility of the materials, it’s not the same story, given that this is an entry-level product.

Customized assembly

The G Driving Force Shifter is mounted using the clamps typical of Logitech‘s mounting systems. In addition to this, Logitech includes a screw in the box to secure the shifter when installed on a table or desk. In any case, it doesn’t budge in normal use, and it’s pretty solid when you’re going at it in gruff mode too.

For cockpits, Logitech has provided fixing points with M6 screws. This is a pretty standard mounting system, and almost every chassis on the market is compatible with the G Driving Force Shifter. Personally, I wouldn’t take this shifter and put it on a cockpit, but I can see how some might consider it. So….

Manufacturing and finishing

Ah, now for the finish! Well, it’s cheap. The G Driving Force Shifter uses plastic, and lots of it. This is to be expected, given Logitech’s off-price for this shifter. But all in all, it’s pretty well finished.

There’s plastic, of course, but the joints between the parts are flush, which gives me a good feeling for the finish. OK, the lever moves a little too much for my taste, and the whole shifter is ultra-light, not even touching 800g on the scale.

However, don’t be fooled by appearances! This shifter is well made, especially when you consider that Logitech has an excellent reputation for quality products. As for the shifter mechanism, it’s made of metal to ensure it lasts a long time. I have to say that after several years of use, the G Driving Force Shifter is still holding up well.

Handling the gear lever

The first thing you notice when you pick up this shifter is how light it is. It doesn’t even weigh 800g, and the lever itself moves a little too much for my taste. It reminds me of the gearshifts on really cheap cars.

Apart from that, the grip is pretty good, and I really enjoyed my sim-racing sessions with it. The lever movement is quite short, which enhances realism and driving sensations.

As this shifter is in H Pattern, you’ll only be using it with games featuring mechanical gearboxes, coupled with a clutch pedal. Incidentally, I’d advise you to stick with Logitech’s ecosystem, as this is where the G Driving Force Shifter works best.

Another positive point concerning handling is Logitech‘s excellent mounting system. The two clamps and the screw ensure that the shifter doesn’t move at all from its place on your setup, whether it’s on a desk or a table.

Sensations during play

When you unpack the G Driving Force Shifter and intend to install it in your setup, you’ll notice one thing: it only works with Logitech bases if you don’t have the USB adapter. That’s the first negative point before you even try it out.

Then, when I picked up the shifter, the second thing I noticed was that the handle moved a little too much. However, the G Driving Force Shifter should be seen as a shifter for sim-racing beginners, and the feel of it, with that in mind, is pretty good. The 6 gears shift smoothly and lightly, even with minimal effort on your part. It’s true that this shifter pales in comparison with Thrustmaster‘sTH8A (which you can discover by discover by clicking here), but the two devices are aimed at totally different sim-racer audiences: one is intended for amateur and pro drivers(TH8A), the other is the ideal choice for beginners.

Nonetheless, I have to admit that the G Driving Force Shifter gave me a great feel for the game during all my sim-racing sessions, adding an enormous amount of realism and immersion.

Logitech G Driving Force compatibility

On paper, the G Driving Force Shifter is compatible with Playstation, Xbox and PC. However, you’ll need a Logitech base(G29, G920) to use this device properly. If you have a competitor’s base, you’ll need a USB adapter (sold separately) to connect the G Driving Force Shifter, and only on PC.

As far as titles are concerned, virtually all games support Logitech ‘s shifter natively. You won’t have any problems with this, or with cockpit compatibility.

Value for money

Listed at €59.99 on the Logitech website, the G Driving Force Shifter is €45 on Amazon. At this price, it’s unbeatable, especially if you already own a steering wheel/base unit from the Swiss manufacturer, and the G Driving Force Shifter is your shifter of choice in this scenario.

By choosing this shifter and a Logitech steering wheel, you’ll end up with a bill of less than €300, and frankly that’s excellent for what you get in terms of sensations, realism and immersion. The value for money of the G Driving Force Shifter is very good, even if the device does have its little flaws.

My verdict on Logitech’s G Driving Force

Logitech has hit the nail on the head with the G Driving Force Shifter at an unbeatable price, especially for beginner sim racers. It’s undeniable that those who want to get started in the discipline do their shopping at Logitech, so it makes sense to complete your setup in the same ecosystem.

The G Driving Force Shifter can’t hold a candle to the TH8A, but at the same time, these two shifters aren’t in the same segment. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re on a budget and already have a Logitech base, the G Driving Force Shifter is a must-have. I’d recommend this shifter for all sim-racers who want to considerably increase the level of realism and immersion in racing for a very low price. But if you’ve got a bigger budget and really want to treat yourself, then I highly recommend you check out my review of the Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter or, better still, my review of the Fanatec Clubsport Shifter SQ V 1.5