Today, virtually every petrolhead, car fan and racing enthusiast is involved in sim-racing. It’s a discipline that has grown enormously over the last two decades, thanks in particular to the innovations of brands such as Thrustmaster, Logitech and Fanatec.

Setting up a sim-racing setup is a very simple thing these days, and very inexpensive for some. For example, for as little as €200 you can have a steering wheel with a base and pedalboard, as is the case with Thrustmaster T150.

Gone are the days when car racing on the “small screen” was limited to playing with controllers, even if these have become excellent over the generations of consoles. If you want to race at Monza, you need a setup worthy of the circuit’s reputation, and I’ve got just the steering wheel + pedals bundle that’s perfect, and for very little money.

In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the Thrustmaster T150, tell you about its features, advantages and disadvantages, and tell you who it’s best suited to.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Playstation-licensed steering wheel
• 28 cm diameter wheel
• 1080° rotation angle
• Belt and gear drive motor
• Pedals with 2 pedals
• Compatible with PS3, PS4, PC and some PS5 titles
• Metal wheel structure
• 13 cm metal pallets

Thrustmaster T150 design

The Thrustmaster T150 is a wheel that arrived on the market in 2016, and it shows a little in its design. Overall, the wheel is sober, with the lower and upper parts in black, and the sides in blue. The material used looks like perforated leather, but it’s actually rubber.

The wheel is 28 cm in diameter, which is a little small for my taste, but it will suit all sim-racers perfectly, whether for GT, rally or even F1 racing. Personally, I wouldn’t take the Thrustmaster T150 as my main steering wheel for F1 22 sessions, but it’s still an affordable choice for some sim racers.

The base, meanwhile, is made entirely of plastic and houses the T150’s belt-and-gear-driven motor. As far as I’m concerned, the base takes up a lot of space, but that’s typical of this force feedback technology.

As for the crankset, it’s very basic, with plastic for the structure and the 2 pedals. The footrest is rather wide, with a non-slip coating. Here again, it’s very basic, both in design and feel, and I’ll come back to that below.

Customized assembly

The Thrustmaster T150 is the manufacturer’s entry-level steering wheel, which means it lacks advanced technology and other features. The T150 can be mounted on a table, desk or even a cockpit, provided the latter is compatible.

In fact, attaching it to one of the setups I’ve just mentioned will only take a few minutes, with its connection to the gaming platform (consoles or PC), and that’s quite a change from other sim-racing peripherals which can take up to twenty minutes to install. The T150 is designed to be affordable and above all “user friendly”, even if this isn’t really the case when it comes to buttons.

Manufacturing and finishing

Being an entry-level product for less than €200, I’ll let you guess the build quality and finish of this steering wheel. In two words, it’s “very simple”. Plastic dominates most of the steering wheel, with only the wheel structure in metal to give it a good level of solidity.

As for the rest, plastic and more plastic, especially on the pedals. Even if, in absolute terms, it’s well made with a good finish, it’s still a material that makes the steering wheel look cheap. When you handle it, it makes a lot of noise, and I’d advise you to take it easy on the crankset, or you’ll blow it up under heavy braking.

Even though this is an entry-level product, Thrustmaster has a reputation to uphold, and it shows in the build quality. Surfaces are smooth, as are the joints between parts. You won’t feel any sharp or protruding edges, and that’s frankly all I’m looking for in a steering wheel at this price.

Handling the steering wheel

The Thrustmaster T150 has a very good grip, and although the wheel is a little small, I didn’t feel any discomfort during my sim-racing sessions. The rubber coating helps a lot when you’re playing for long periods, with a surprisingly high grip. Frankly, I can race for hours without my hands slipping off the wheel.

The paddles are large (13 cm), metal and wheel-mounted. I think this is excellent, as you can shift gears while steering, without your hands leaving the wheel. However, some drivers prefer to have them on the base, because at least they know their position is always fixed. It’s a personal preference, and I’m not going to argue the point.

Let’s talk about the buttons. On the Thrustmaster T150, there are 13 buttons and a D-Pad. Some buttons are easy to access with the thumb, but the others are a little too central for my taste. On several occasions, I found myself having to take my hand off the wheel to press a button in game. That’s not user-friendly at all, especially when you’re in a hot race.

Sensations during play

Where the T150 shines brightest is in its in-game feel. To put it simply: it’s a very good steering wheel for the price. The motor provides powerful force feedback that’s fine-tuned and, above all, very precise.

I don’t know how Thrustmaster managed to produce such sensations from a belt-and-gear drive motor, because other brands can’t do the same thing. Logitech, for example, on the G29 (to be discovered here), which is the T150‘s direct competitor, steering and force feedback are sometimes blurred, something I hate on a sim-racing wheel.

Although I did notice a tiny dead zone in the center, you quickly get used to it and the feel is in no way altered by it. The magnetic sensor mounted on the steering column certainly plays an important role in the motor’s feel.

As for the paddles, these are superb for the price. Made of metal, they click relatively well and you won’t miss a gear during use. On the other hand, it’s a completely different story for the pedals and their feel. It’s really cheap, all plastic, and I’m always afraid of blowing it up during braking. Honestly, I’d rather spend more money and buy another crankset. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to check out my article on the 4 Best Cranksets for Sim Racing in 2025.

Thrustmaster T150 compatibility

In terms of compatibility, the Thrustmaster T150 is designed to run on PC, PS3, PS4 and PS5. On Sony’s latest console, however, you can expect rather limited compatibility between titles. Some support it, others don’t. And if you’re looking for a steering wheel compatible with Xbox consoles, just click here.

For other manufacturer peripherals, such as the gearshift lever TH8Ashifter, these work perfectly with this steering wheel via a USB cable. Overall, the Thrustmaster ecosystem is well supported on all the brand’s products.

Value for money

The recommended price for the Thrustmaster T150 is €200, but it’s often found for around €150, or even less than that. Given the quality of the steering wheel, the good force feedback and its driving precision, the T150 remains one of the best in its price range.

Even if the T150 ‘s build quality isn’t on a par with an entry-level steering wheel from Fanatecs entry-level steering wheels, there’s no denying that Thrustmaster ‘s steering wheel offers excellent value for money.

My verdict on the T150 from Thrustmaster

The T150 is a steering wheel aimed primarily at beginner and/or amateur sim racers. I’ve really enjoyed my sim-racing sessions with it, especially when you consider that the price is superbly attractive for small budgets, and that’s why this wheel is a must-have for beginner sim-racers.

If you’re going to buy this steering wheel, I’d definitely recommend it. Just remember to use a different, much higher-quality crankset than the one supplied with the T150, and you’re all set. But if you’re not convinced, or you’re just curious, I suggest you read my review of the 6 Best Steering Wheels for Sim Racing at 2025.