For fans of sim-racing, I don’t need to introduce the Playseat brand, which has been in the business for over 20 years. With so much experience, it goes without saying that its products are of the highest quality, very well designed and, above all, suitable for everyone.

Some sim-raceurs swear by steering wheels/bases and pedals, claiming that these peripherals provide the most realism. In my opinion, these people are right, insofar as the force feedback from a base will make you feel what the car is doing, as will the vibrations from the pedals in the event of ABS intervention. But let’s not forget that the cockpit, or chassis, adds a touch of immersion, sometimes essential to certain simus. The most obvious example is the use of an F1-style cockpit for sim-racing in F1 2022: the immersion will be less if you use a standard chassis.

As I’ve just mentioned, the Playseat brand has over 20 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of cockpits, and offers us several very interesting models, such as theEvolution. In what follows, I’m going to introduce it, tell you about its strengths and weaknesses, and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical cockpit features

• Chassis designed in collaboration with racing drivers
• Quick and easy to assemble
• Foldable design for easy storage
• Compatible with all platforms
• Dimensions: 130 x 50 x 98 cm
• Weight: 19.8 kg
• Good build quality

Playseat Evolution design

Cockpit design is a rather subjective point, in the sense that what I find beautiful is not necessarily so for you. But as far as I’m concerned, the Playseat Evolution is a beautiful cockpit. Its design echoes that of a bucket racing seat like Sparco‘s, even if, as far as I know, the Playseat Evolution was not designed as a result of collaboration between the two brands.

The frame structure is underneath, and the seat is bolted to it. As I’ve just said, it’s very similar to a racing seat. The material used for the seat is Alcantara, and it’s really quite beautiful, especially for the price this cockpit commands.

As for the rest of the chassis, it’s tubular with plates for attaching chainstays/wheels and cranksets, all painted black. All in all, it’s very attractive and, above all, very sober.

Manufacturing and finishing

Over the years, Playseat has mastered the art of large-scale manufacturing, and it shows on theEvolution. Made from steel for the structure and Alcantara for the seat, this cockpit is beautifully finished, with no burrs. You can easily run your hand over any surface, without fear of cutting yourself.

As far as comfort is concerned, it’s right up there. You’ll be able to put in hours of sim-racing without feeling an ounce of fatigue or discomfort, provided the seat position suits you.

As I’m sure you’re aware, some racing seats aren’t adjustable and you have to make do with the default position of the backrest. The Playseat Evolution is the same: either it fits, or it doesn’t. Although the seat was very comfortable during my sim-racing sessions, I couldn’t ensure this for everyone because of its fixed position.

Using the cockpit

As with many of the manufacturer’s cockpits, the Playseat Evolution is a chassis that will work perfectly with virtually any peripheral from FanatecThrustmaster and Logitech. This translates into brackets for the flywheel/base and pedalboard, which can accommodate different product ranges.

What’s more, the Playseat Evolution is compatible with all platforms, namely PC, Xbox and Playstation. Whatever kind of sim-racing you prefer, this chassis will suit you perfectly, especially if you take its price into consideration.

The only limits I can think of are :

• Maximum user weight of 122 kg
• Maximum user height of 2.2 m
• The minimum age of the user is 8 years.

On a day-to-day basis, the Playseat Evolution is a good cockpit that doesn’t take up much space when in use or stored in a cupboard. Its dimensions are relatively small, but its weight is quite substantial (almost 20 kg). As a result, I’d recommend putting it in a sim-racing corner, and leaving it there.

Sensation in play

Even if most of the sensations come from peripherals such as the base, steering wheel or pedals, there’s no denying that a cockpit brings immersion. A sim-racing session in a racing seat will make your brain believe you’re actually in a GT3 or Supercar.

The Playseat Evolution is a cockpit for everyone. In other words, it’s perfect for any kind of sim-racing: GT3, drifting, rallying and so on. F1 fans will prefer a Playseat F1 (see my review of the Playseat F1 )which offers a driving position identical to that of a single-seater.

However, this entry-level cockpit from Playseat isn’t without its faults, not least the central structure that supports the base/glider. For sim-racers used to braking with their right foot, this will pose a problem, as it interferes with your legs. If your crankset has 2 pedals, you’ll need time to adapt. If it has three, well, you’ll still have this problem.

After that, as I’ve just said, the Playseat Evolution is a cockpit primarily intended for use with entry-level peripherals, especially for bases. The Logitech G29 or G920 are perfect for this chassis, as their low force feedback won’t pose any stability problems. On the other hand, if you attach a Fanatec CSL DDthe structure may move, leading to instability, especially on the 8 nm version of the base.

Playseat Evolution compatibility

As with many other Playseat cockpits, theEvolution is compatible with the majority of sim-racing peripherals, such as those from Fanatec(CSL range), Thrustmaster(T150 and T300), Logitech(G29 and G920), and many more. The central support includes a plate with anchoring points for attaching these peripherals. The Playseat Evolution also features a plate for pedalboards, which also includes fixing points.

Overall, this cockpit is perfect for just about any sim-racing peripheral you’ve got, and the same goes for platforms. The Playseat Evolution is compatible with all platforms, including PC, Xbox and Playstation. In that respect, you’re covered with this cockpit.

Value for money

At just €300, the Playseat Evolution is an excellent cockpit for low-budget setups. Between build quality, finish, comfort and compatibility, it’s the best in its price range on the market today.

This cockpit offers numerous anchoring points for the sim-racing peripherals widely available on the market, and this is frankly a big plus point for this chassis. As far as I’m concerned, the Playseat Evolution offers excellent value for money. Even if the structure isn’t really stable, especially if you’re using a base with fairly powerful force feedback, or if you’re driving quite aggressively. But it’s still a good cockpit for the money, and mainly aimed at beginner sim-racers.

My verdict on Playseat’s Evolution cockpit

I love Playseat cockpits, and theEvolution is a worthy product of the Dutch manufacturer. It’s comfortable, even if the seating position won’t be perfect for every sim-racer. But if you like sim-racing with a fixed position, this is perfect for you.

The Playseat Evolution will immerse you in sim-racing, no matter what discipline you’re into. This cockpit is versatile, affordable and adaptable to all setups. I highly recommend it to beginners and sim-racing enthusiasts alike. If you’re an advanced or pro pilot, this isn’t necessarily the product for you, and I’d advise you to upgrade for that. As a matter of fact, I’ve already written an article on the 4 best cockpits for sim-racing at 2025 right here.