The Gran Turismo saga is currently on its ^8th opus, if we consider only the main editions, and the latest is called Gran Turismo 7. Don’t ask me why, I’m not looking for reasons. And since its Playstation debut in 1997, the game has been a true standard of driving simulation on Sony consoles, for purists and racing fans alike.

Such a craze is justified, to say the least, as far as I’m concerned, because to be frank, there’s nothing better on Playstation consoles when it comes to semi-arcade racing. Sure, you’ve got titles like Asseto Corsa, but these games are racing simulations, and many PS4 or PS5 racers aren’t looking for that level of realism. In fact, it’s simple: consoles are made for fun, and titles like Asseto Corsa are not recommended for racers who are only in it for the fun.

Let’s get back to sim-racing. GT7 is the benchmark for Playstation racing, and rightly so. You can enjoy it with the controller supplied with the console, but you need a sim-racing setup to get the most out of it. That’s why I’ve come up with a small selection of sim-racing peripherals for your setup that will help you enjoy Gran Turismo 7 that much more.

What’s the best steering wheel to play Gran Turismo 7 on PS5?

GT7 was released in early 2022, and Sony’s latest console only a few months before that. As a result, some manufacturers of sim-racing peripherals have developed new bundles, as is the case with Logitech and Thrustmasterand others have simply updated their product selection to support Sony’s new console, as is the case with Fanatecbut also Logitech and Thrusmaster, who are playing on two fronts.

In this little guide, I’m going to focus on these 3 brands, because, as far as I’m concerned, they’re the best on consoles. Of course, you have more premium manufacturers, much more reputed for having quality products, but their peripherals only work on PCs, as is the case with Simucube, Simagic, and so on.

The Fanatec GT DD Pro

It’s time to move on to a worthy challenger, the Fanatec GT DD Pro. This is the famous Fanatec base, the CSL DD, but in a Gran Turismo version. For the latter, it’s pure pleasure in terms of force feedback and sensations. You’ll feel everything the car you’re driving does on GT7, and with 5 or 8 nm of torque, depending on what you opt for.

As for the steering wheel, it’s specific to Gran Turismo, with a unique and very beautiful design, lots of controls, a RevLED, a small screen but with a plastic structure and rubber coating. Honestly, it looks really cheap, and I’m pretty sure that this choice of materials was dictated by Sony in order to reduce the bundle’s selling price.

A CSL Pedals pedalboard is also supplied, and is correct for its category. However, and this is Fanatec’s strength, you can upgrade it with a clutch kit (adding a pedal) and a Load Cell kit for the brake.

For the price, expect to pay €700 for the 5 nm version, and €800 for the 8 nm. All I can say is that this bundle is well worth the price, and much better than the Thrustmaster T-GT 2.

The Fanatec GT DD Extreme

Fanatec’s brand-new GT DD Extreme bundle has just been released, much to the delight of sim-racing and Gran Turismo fans. Taking up the successful recipe of the GT DD and GT DD Pro models, which featured a CSL DD base with 5 or 8 nm of torque and a specific steering wheel developed in partnership with Polyphonie Studio. This time it’s more or less the same, except that the base is none other than the 15 nm torque ClubSport DD+.

The new DD+, as I just mentioned, develops 15 nm of constant torque. This means that, if you want it, you’ll have the full power of the base at all times, and not at maximum, as is the case with the competition. This base is not only powerful, but also extremely communicative in terms of light and heavy details. With it, and once you’ve set it up correctly, you’ll feel the slightest input from the car you’re driving, from a simple loss of grip, to mass movements in curves, to ABS interventions if you’ve activated it.

A new bundle also means a new steering wheel. Well, not that new, actually. Fanatec, in partnership with the Gran Turismo development studio, based its design on the old GT DD bundle steering wheel, slightly enhancing the wheel’s quality and overall appearance. As far as I’m concerned, the new steering wheel feels better in the hand, and the leather dilutes its toy-like appearance.

This bundle is already available on the Fanatec website for €1300. All you need is a pedalboard to complete your racing setup, preferably one in Load Cell.

The Logitech G29

Let’s start with an inexpensive bundle, perfect for racing fans who don’t have a lot of time to invest in sim-racing. I’m talking, of course, about the Logitech G29 and its brother the G920. This bundle is budget-friendly, so don’t expect a monster of power and realism on feedback.

So, on the front, we have a wheel that’s 28 cm in diameter, which is a bit small as far as I’m concerned. The structure of the steering wheel is metal, which gives it a much better racing feel, with leather all around. Frankly, for the price, it’s much more premium than more expensive steering wheels.

Ergonomically, it’s not bad at all, with controls positioned all over the steering wheel, but easily accessible, a RevLED and two rear-mounted paddles. You can easily use all the G29’s buttons without your hands leaving the steering wheel, since the wheel is small.

The crankset is very basic, with 3 pedals in all and adjustable resistance. As for force feedback, we have 2 motors in the base that take care of that. The feel is smooth and precise, and the torque developed is around 4 nm max. That’s not much, but it’s great for beginners. However, this base can sometimes be capricious, and will send you miscalculated force feedback.

Price-wise, the G29 costs between €250 and €280, depending on the retailer. In my opinion, it’s the perfect steering wheel to get started in sim-racing, or to have a good time on Gran Turismo 7 tracks. By the way, you also have the G923 which is an improved and updated version of the G29, with better force feedback, a more sober design and True Force technology for more precise feedback, in theory of course.

The Thrustmaster T-GT 2

This steering wheel, or bundle, is officially licensed for Gran Turismo, and is offered by Thrustmaster. It’s now in its second version, and in terms of design, and on paper too, there are no major changes. The base remains more or less identical, the steering wheel is a carbon copy, and the pedals are the same.

The steering wheel is nice, but cheap. Unlike the G29, the T-GT 2 uses plastic and leather for its wheel. The difference is so obvious that you can tell all the money went into obtaining the Gran Turismo license. In terms of ergonomics, it’s the same as the G29: the controls are all distributed to the sides of the steering wheel, but are easily accessible.

For the pedalboard, it’s the T3PA GT 2 which is also basic. You can adjust the spacing of the 3 pedals, and that’s it. As for the base, it’s a Brushless motor with 40 watts of power, and it kicks ass. The sensations are there for all to see, with force feedback that’s precise, powerful and, above all, communicative of every detail felt by the car.

However, this steering wheel doesn’t offer attractive value for money. Expect to pay around €700 for it, and frankly, that’s far too much for what you get in return. Honestly, I only put this bundle on this list because it’s officially licensed by Playstation and Gran Turismo. If you’re looking for a rig to play titles other than GT7, you can skip it.

The Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel

Let’s finish with an excellent bundle from Logitech, in Direct Drive too: the G Pro Racing Wheel. This is a brand-new product, and Logitech’s first in terms of DD base. It develops 11 nm of torque, with excellent force feedback, superbly well dosed without TrueFroce as far as I’m concerned. Feedback is fine and smooth, but can be powerful if you want it to be.

The steering wheel is sublime, with brushed aluminum, leather, well-placed controls and 4 paddles. It’s premium, you can see it, and above all, you can feel it. Ergonomics are exemplary, whether for Gran Turismo 7 or any other sim-racing title.

This bundle comes with just the base and steering wheel, and you’ll need to purchase the pedalboard (in Load Cell) separately. As for the pedalboard, it’s a brand-new product too, in Load Cell, and frankly great for its range, even if it’s only a few months old. I’ve loved using it, and it’s on a par with the Fanatec pedals.

For the price, it’s going to hurt, believe me. The G Pro retails for a whopping €1,100 for the base and steering wheel, and you’ll have to add another €390 for the pedalboard. That’s a lot of money, especially as the only flaw in this bundle is Logitech’s almost non-existent ecosystem. Sure, the Swiss manufacturer is promising us new products and peripherals, but for now, we’ll have to make do with this alone. Still, it’s an excellent bundle if you can afford it.