MOZA R5 Pro vs Fanatec CSL DD vs Thrustmaster T598: Which Direct Drive Wheel Should You Buy in 2026?

• The MOZA R5 Pro is the newest of the three. It arrived on July 28, 2026 with a 21-bit magnetic encoder, 600 MHz CPU, 1000 Hz USB polling, the NexGen Force Feedback 5.0 algorithm and a complete bundle priced at €419. Its biggest advantage is the combination of new hardware, a flexible PC ecosystem and extensive connectivity directly through the wheel base itself. Its limitation is just as clear: it is PC-only and there is no way to increase its torque through a later upgrade.
• The Fanatec CSL DD remains the most mature option of the three. It was announced in June 2021 and began reaching customers in October of that year. Today it includes QR2 and, since June 2026, FullForce support via firmware. It delivers 5 Nm of peak torque with the 90 W power supply and 8 Nm peak with the 180 W Boost Kit 180. It works on PC and can be made Xbox-compatible by using a licensed Fanatec Xbox steering wheel, but it is not compatible with PlayStation and cannot be upgraded to become compatible.
• The Thrustmaster T598 is the most technically unusual alternative thanks to its axial-flux Direct Axial Drive motor. Thrustmaster specifies 5 Nm of constant torque, overshoot capability of up to 100% and a 5 ms response time, as well as a design intended to eliminate cogging. There is a PlayStation/PC version and an Xbox/PC version, and for anyone who mainly plays on PS5 it is the simplest choice in this comparison.

The decision therefore starts with the platform:

• PS5 or PS4: T598 PlayStation, no contest.
• Xbox: CSL DD with an Xbox-compatible wheel, or the T598-X.
• PC with a budget of around €400: R5 Pro and CSL DD are the most interesting options.
• PC with maximum torque as the absolute priority: 8 Nm CSL DD.
• PC with the latest-generation hardware as the priority: R5 Pro.
• If you are particularly sensitive to mechanical smoothness: the T598 deserves serious attention.

Where to buy them: MOZA R5 Pro Bundle, Fanatec CSL DD QR2 and Ready2Race bundles, CSL DD on Amazon and Thrustmaster T598.

How We Approached This Comparison

There are four rules worth establishing before comparing specifications, because they make the difference between a proper analysis and a list of numbers copied from product pages.

Not All Torque Figures Mean the Same Thing

Fanatec explicitly labels its 5 and 8 Nm figures as peak torque. Thrustmaster specifies 5 Nm of constant torque plus overshoot. MOZA presents a less clear-cut situation: the R5 Pro’s marketing copy refers to 6 Nm of constant torque, while the technical specification table on the same family of pages lists “Peak Torque: 6 Nm”.

For that reason, in this article we do not use the R5 Pro’s 6 Nm figure as proof that it can sustain more torque than the CSL DD, nor do we treat it as directly equivalent to the T598’s 5 Nm of constant torque. It is an official specification expressed with inconsistent terminology, and it should be treated accordingly.

A Manufacturer’s Specification Is Not an Independent Measurement

Encoder resolution, power-supply output, USB polling rate and published latency are useful data points, but they are not substitutes for bench testing. When a manufacturer claims that a wheel base is faster, smoother or free from cogging, we distinguish that claim from independently measurable published data.

We Compare Both Standalone Wheel Bases and Bundles

The price of a standalone wheel base cannot be compared directly with a bundle that includes a steering wheel, pedals and a table clamp, so you will find both types of pricing listed separately.

The Important Cost Is the Ecosystem, Not Day-One Pricing

Someone who starts with a €400 or €500 bundle will almost always end up buying a load-cell brake pedal, a second wheel rim, a wheel stand or cockpit and, sooner or later, a shifter and handbrake. That is why we also examine the upgrade path of each platform.

Market Context: What Has Actually Changed

Fanatec After Corsair

Corsair completed its acquisition of Endor AG’s Fanatec business on September 19, 2024. Since then there has been a clear reorganization of the product range, support and, especially, software. The new Fanatec App appeared in 2025 as a replacement for the old Control Panel and FanaLab, and by 2026 active development is focused there. The previous software remains available as a legacy option, but it no longer receives new features or recent firmware releases.

The CSL DD also received FullForce in June 2026, which is notable because it demonstrates that a wheel base originally launched in 2021 is still receiving meaningful functional improvements through firmware. The Boost Kit 180, whose availability has fluctuated historically, is listed in the European store at €99.95 at the time of this update, so it no longer makes sense to describe it as a difficult accessory to obtain.

MOZA and the R5 Pro

MOZA unveiled the R5 Pro on July 28, 2026 as part of one of the company’s largest simultaneous product launches in recent years. The new model conceptually replaces the R5 as the brand’s entry point and updates several important areas: the advertised torque rises from 5.5 to 6 Nm, the 15-bit encoder is replaced by a 21-bit magnetic unit, a 600 MHz CPU and the NexGen 5.0 algorithm are added, the SR-P Lite pedals are replaced by the SR-P Lite2, and thermal management has been revised.

MOZA continues to sell the previous R5 in some markets, meaning both products will coexist for a while. With only €20 separating the two, it is worth comparing both bundles before deciding.

Thrustmaster and Axial Flux

Thrustmaster unveiled the T598 in October 2024, with its European launch initially scheduled for late November. Its innovation was not simply bringing Direct Drive to a lower price point, but doing so with an axial-flux motor featuring PCB stator technology developed together with ECM PCB Stator Tech. Since then, the product has evolved mainly through firmware and ecosystem expansion, including an Xbox version and the new Raceline family with a Load Cell upgrade.

MOZA R5 Pro vs Fanatec CSL DD vs Thrustmaster T598 Specifications

“Not disclosed” means the manufacturer does not publish the figure. Prices checked on August 21, 2026; promotions may change without notice.

Motor Architecture: This Is Where There Is a Difference

The biggest design difference between these three products is not in the software or the included steering wheel, but inside the motor.

MOZA R5 Pro and Fanatec CSL DD

Both use conventional Direct Drive layouts, with the steering wheel coupled directly to the motor shaft. In Fanatec’s case, the company highlights its patented FluxBarrier technology, developed to improve efficiency and smoothness, as well as a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite shaft designed to reduce rotational mass. Lower rotational mass can contribute to faster angular response, although that physical relationship should not be turned into a quantitative comparison between wheel bases: Fanatec does not publish a moment-of-inertia figure that would allow the real advantage over the R5 Pro or T598 to be measured.

MOZA places its emphasis elsewhere, on electronic control: a 21-bit encoder, 600 MHz CPU, NexGen 5.0 algorithm and 1000 Hz USB polling rate.

Thrustmaster T598: Axial Flux

The T598 uses a different architecture. In an axial-flux motor, the magnetic flux travels roughly parallel to the axis of rotation, while the rotor and stator use a disc-like geometry. Thrustmaster combines that architecture with a PCB stator developed together with ECM PCB Stator Tech and describes the result as a cogging-free system.

It is important to be precise here. This does not mean that every axial-flux motor is immune to cogging in every possible design; what matters is that Thrustmaster claims this particular implementation eliminates the effect. Cogging is the slight periodic resistance that can be felt when the rotor and stator’s preferred magnetic positions become noticeable while turning a motor slowly, and reducing it is desirable in a Direct Drive wheel base because it removes a potential source of mechanical granularity.

What we cannot assume without knowing the complete internal architecture is the causal chain sometimes implied: less cogging, fewer filters, lower latency. Thrustmaster separately publishes the 5 ms response time and the absence of cogging, but it does not document the control loop in enough detail to establish a direct relationship between the two.

Which Is Better?

I would not choose a wheel base solely because it uses an axial or conventional motor architecture. Topology is only one part of the experience. The final feel also depends on electromagnetic design, current control, firmware, position and speed estimation, the filters being applied, wheel-rim inertia and the way each simulator implements FFB. The T598 has a particularly interesting electromechanical approach, but that does not automatically make every axial motor superior to every conventional Direct Drive motor.

Torque: Why 5, 6 and 8 Nm Do Not Tell the Whole Story

This is probably the area where it is easiest to reach the wrong conclusion by reading a marketing specification sheet.

Fanatec: Very Clear Figures

Fanatec specifies the CSL DD at 5 Nm of peak torque with the standard 90 W power supply and 8 Nm of peak torque with the Boost Kit 180. The motor itself does not change: the kit replaces the power supply and the electronics automatically detect the power available.

There is also a setting called FFS. In PEAK mode the wheel base can deliver the full 8 Nm, while in LINEAR mode Fanatec reduces maximum output to around 6 Nm in order to maintain a more consistent relationship between sustained forces and peaks. It is a good example of why simply saying “8 Nm” without explaining how the wheel base operates is not enough.

Thrustmaster: 5 Nm Constant Plus Overshoot

Thrustmaster specifies the T598 at 5 Nm of constant torque with up to 100% overshoot capability for transient effects. That does not justify presenting it as a 10 Nm wheel base in a comparison table. The correct interpretation is that, according to the manufacturer’s specification, it can sustain 5 Nm and has additional temporary headroom for certain peaks, which can be particularly useful for impacts, curbs and rapid load changes.

MOZA: A Contradiction That Needs to Be Acknowledged

MOZA uses two different descriptions for the same product. Its marketing copy refers to 6 Nm of constant torque; its specification table says “Peak Torque: 6 Nm”. Both descriptions appear in official R5 Pro documentation.

Without further clarification from the manufacturer or an independent measurement, the correct approach is not to build a strong conclusion around the word “constant”. We therefore treat 6 Nm as the R5 Pro’s published nominal rating without claiming that it is directly superior to the T598’s 5 Nm of constant torque.

Headroom and Clipping: This Really Does Matter on Track

The genuinely useful concept here is dynamic range. Imagine that during a normal corner you are already using most of the wheel base’s available output. If you then hit a curb that demands even more torque while the wheel base is already close to its maximum, the signal cannot increase any further and clipping occurs. In practice, physically different events end up being represented by the same maximum force.

This is why a wheel base with more available headroom can better communicate the differences between sustained load, loss of grip, curbs, impacts, compression and sudden changes of direction. Here, the 8 Nm CSL DD has an obvious advantage over its own 5 Nm version, with a significantly higher peak-torque ceiling. That does not automatically mean greater fidelity than the R5 Pro or T598 in every respect, but it does mean more headroom before saturation.

Encoder and Electronics: The R5 Pro’s Biggest Leap

The R5 Pro moves from the original R5’s 15-bit encoder to 21 bits, which means going from 32,768 states to 2,097,152: sixty-four times as many possible digital positions per revolution. It also adds a 600 MHz CPU, the same one used by the R21 Ultra and R25 Ultra, together with a 1000 Hz USB polling rate.

Does That Mean Sixty-Four Times More Perceptible Precision?

No. A car’s steering does not require two million positions for a human driver to place the wheel accurately. Where the additional resolution can be useful is inside the controller itself: detecting extremely small movements, estimating speed at low rotational rates, reducing quantization error, processing movement-dependent effects and achieving finer motor control.

But bit depth alone does not determine Force Feedback quality. Sensor noise, the actual internal control-loop frequency, filtering, the estimation algorithm, motor bandwidth and available current all matter as well. Likewise, a 600 MHz CPU does not prove that the servo loop operates at any particular frequency; it simply indicates a platform with considerably more computational headroom than its predecessor.

What the Other Two Manufacturers Publish

Fanatec uses a high-resolution contactless Hall position sensor from the same technology family used in its Podium products, but it does not publish the CSL DD’s bit depth. The fact that a manufacturer does not advertise “21 bits” does not mean its sensor performs worse in real-world use.

Thrustmaster also does not make sensor resolution a central part of the T598’s marketing; its standout technical figure is the published 5 ms response time. Without an identical test procedure across manufacturers, we should not compare those 5 ms with a non-existent MOZA or Fanatec figure and declare a winner either.

Thermals: What We Know and What We Do Not

A Direct Drive wheel base generates heat. What matters is not whether it gets warm, but whether it maintains performance within its intended operating range.

Fanatec’s documentation is very clear: even at the 8 Nm available with the Boost Kit, the CSL DD can operate without active cooling, with its extruded and CNC-machined aluminum housing acting as structure, enclosure and heatsink at the same time. It is a fanless design.

MOZA specifies a high-strength die-cast aluminum-alloy housing and an updated intelligent temperature-control system with real-time motor monitoring. I would avoid making additional claims about a specific derating curve until sufficiently long independent testing becomes available: the R5 Pro has been commercially available for less than a month at the time of this update, although heat buildup was minimal during our initial hands-on testing with the unit.

Thrustmaster includes a 98 W power supply, and that figure needs to be interpreted carefully: it is the rated output of the power supply, not proof that the motor continuously consumes or delivers 98 W. The product has been on the market long enough to build up far more real-world history than the R5 Pro, but that does not translate into a thermal figure the manufacturer has not published.

Quick Release and Rigidity

The connection between the wheel rim and the shaft matters more than it might seem, because any mechanical play introduces a small disconnect between what the motor is doing and what reaches your hands.

Fanatec QR2

The current CSL DD includes the QR2 Lite Base-Side Type-C. The QR2 geometry comes from the system developed for the BMW M4 GT3, and the steering wheel is installed by pushing it straight onto the wheel base. If you want to adapt older Fanatec wheels, you will need the QR2 Wheel-Side or, in its machined version, the QR2 Pro Wheel-Side.

Fanatec also allows compatible wheels to be hot-swapped without restarting the wheel base or simulator, and specifies that the included QR2 Lite Base-Side does not limit torque even when using the Boost Kit 180. In my assessment, it is the best-executed coupling system of the three.

MOZA

The R5 Pro includes a motorsport-inspired aluminum quick release, and its main advantage is the ability to mount third-party wheel rims using a D1 Spec-compatible coupling. There are two caveats worth keeping in mind: buttons and paddles on a third-party wheel will require their own separate connection to the PC, and MOZA asks users to select the appropriate wheel-rim inertia ratio in Pit House so that hands-off protection works correctly. Even so, that mechanical openness is a major advantage for anyone who wants to experiment with generic wheel rims.

Thrustmaster

Thrustmaster uses its own system and offers adapters and updates for integrating different generations of Wheel Add-Ons, such as the Hypercar or the EVO Racing 32R Leather. The ecosystem is much broader than it was when the T598 launched, but it remains a relatively closed approach centered around the brand’s own accessories.

Pedals: This Comparison Has Changed Significantly

The included pedals affect a bundle’s value just as much as the wheel base itself, and this is the area that has changed the most over the past few months.

MOZA R5 Pro: SR-P Lite2

The bundle includes the SR-P Lite2 pedals, featuring a high-strength coated steel structure and contactless Hall sensors tested for more than ten million actuations. They provide ±15 mm of lateral adjustment and 36 mm of height adjustment, software-configurable curves, an optional clutch module and kits for modifying mechanical feel, including eight 55A elastomers in the brake performance kit.

They do not include a load cell, and the documented kits for this platform do not convert them into a Load Cell pedal set. If you want pressure-based braking, you will need to replace the pedals: MOZA offers the SRP2 for €159 with a 100 kg load cell, while higher-end alternatives include the SR-P and CRP. This is a replacement, not a small upgrade kit, and the cost should be calculated accordingly.

Fanatec: CSL Pedals

The CSL Pedals included with the basic Ready2Race bundles also use magnetic sensors and do not come with a Load Cell as standard. The difference is that an official CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit is available for €79.95, currently discounted by 50% from its usual €159.95 price. It replaces the brake pedal and allows the original brake to be reused as a clutch. It is the cheapest and most direct route to a load cell among these three platforms. One step above are the CSL Elite Pedals V2.

Thrustmaster: Raceline Pedals LTE

The T598 includes the Raceline Pedals LTE, a modular metal pedal set with H.E.A.R.T. sensors. In 2026, Thrustmaster already sells the Raceline LC Upgrade for €139.99, which adds a brake with a load cell rated up to 100 kg, a 24-bit sensor, a three-pedal mounting plate, pressure adjustment and configuration through Race Dash or My Thrustmaster Panel. It is a much clearer upgrade path than the ecosystem offered when the T598 first launched.

If you would rather move directly to a serious pedal set: MOZA CRP, Fanatec CSL Elite Pedals V2, Heusinkveld Sprint, Asetek La Prima or SRP-GT 3P.

Software: Three Different Philosophies

MOZA Pit House

Pit House remains one of the platform’s strongest selling points. From a single application you can adjust overall force, damping, friction, inertia, road sensitivity, steering limits, profiles, pedal curves, lighting, assignments and firmware, while a mobile app is also available for adjusting settings and managing compatible devices.

The R5 Pro includes dedicated ports for pedals, dash, shifter, handbrake and emergency stop, allowing much of the ecosystem to be centralized around the wheel base itself.

Fanatec App

Fanatec is in a much better position than it was a few years ago. The Fanatec App replaced the old Control Panel and FanaLab, bringing configuration, firmware updates, profiles, settings, telemetry, LED control and game launching into one application. The current branch belongs to the 1.5.x family; version 1.5.3.1 was released on August 11, 2026, although the main download page may lag slightly behind versions that first appear in the forums.

For the CSL DD, the major new feature in 2026 has been FullForce. Fanatec had to make significant changes to the firmware architecture to bring the protocol to hardware that was not originally designed with it in mind. In certain games, Compatibility Mode may still be required for specific functions such as LEDs or legacy compatibility.

My Thrustmaster Panel

The T598 has improved significantly since launch, but one important dependency remains: firmware updates require a Windows PC. The PlayStation version is currently on firmware 3.08, which among other things added support for new pedals, Raceline LC settings, the Engine Roar function, interface improvements and several fixes. The T598-X is currently on version 1.60.

If you buy a T598 exclusively for console use, it is still highly advisable to have occasional access to a Windows PC.

The Specific Case of the T598-X on Xbox

The Xbox version deserves its own section because its compatibility is not always obvious when first connecting it. It has two modes: NATIVE, the default mode identified by a white bar on the display, and LEGACY, shown with a purple bar, in which the wheel base presents itself to the system as a TS-XW Racer. Thrustmaster states that titles such as F1 23, F1 24 and F1 25 require LEGACY mode on Xbox.

The native visual telemetry added with firmware 1.60 also comes with specific conditions. Thrustmaster recommends not launching the game through Quick Resume, not opening the console’s main menu in the middle of a session if you want telemetry to remain active, avoiding the virtual keyboard, having the wheel rim installed before powering on the wheel base, and restarting both the wheel base and the game if telemetry is lost. None of this prevents you from enjoying the product, but it introduces more configuration friction than the CSL DD usually requires in games with native support.

Platform Compatibility

^* The CSL DD requires a Fanatec steering wheel with an Xbox license. Compatibility resides in the wheel, not the wheel base.

Three Simple Rules

• The CSL DD cannot be converted into a PlayStation-compatible wheel base. For PlayStation support within the Fanatec ecosystem, you need a licensed wheel base such as the 8 Nm Gran Turismo DD Pro, the 5 Nm GT DD Pro bundle or the Gran Turismo DD Extreme.
• The R5 Pro is a PC wheel base. MOZA offers other solutions for Xbox and has confirmed that it is developing its first officially licensed PlayStation products, but none are available yet, and that does not make the R5 Pro a console-compatible wheel base.
• The T598 PlayStation and T598-X are different products. Buy the version that matches your console; there is no way to convert one into the other.

Ecosystem and the True Cost of Upgrading

MOZA

The product catalog is one of the brand’s biggest strengths: wheel bases ranging from the R9 and R12 to the R16, R21 Ultra and R25 Ultra; wheel rims such as the KS Pro, CS Pro, GS and FSR2; sequential shifters, handbrakes, dashboards and an emergency stop, all of which can connect directly to the wheel base, plus the D1 Spec-compatible quick release for third-party wheel rims.

The drawback of the R5 Pro is that there is no Boost Kit-style upgrade: if you want to move from 6 to 9, 12, 16 or more newton-meters, you have to replace the wheel base. The situation is similar with the pedals, because the SR-P Lite2 supports mechanical upgrades but not a load cell, and moving to pressure-based braking means upgrading to the SR-P, SRP2, CRP or a pedal set from another manufacturer.

Fanatec

The CSL DD probably has one of the most cost-effective upgrade paths on the market. Moving from 5 to 8 Nm costs €99.95 with the Boost Kit 180, while upgrading from the standard pedals to a load cell costs €79.95 with the CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit. For around €180 extra, you can significantly improve both wheel-base capability and braking without replacing either product entirely. That is one of its strongest arguments in 2026.

If you later want to move further upmarket without leaving the ecosystem, there is the ClubSport DD, ClubSport DD+, Podium DD1 and DD2.

On the downside, the ecosystem is mechanically more restrictive when it comes to third-party wheel rims. Fanatec’s own wheels, whether the CSL GT3, ClubSport Formula V3 or Formula V2.5 X, require a compatible interface for the wheel base to generate FFB correctly; the Ready2Race bundle does not include a table clamp, which is an additional cost if you plan to mount it on a desk; and PlayStation requires an entirely different wheel base.

Thrustmaster

The T598 ecosystem became considerably more attractive throughout 2025 and 2026. There are multiple Formula, GT, rally and hypercar Wheel Add-Ons, some of which require a specific adapter or firmware, while the €139.99 Raceline LC Upgrade has addressed one of the original shortcomings of the bundle.

There is, however, no equivalent to the Boost Kit for increasing nominal output. Moving up within the brand means replacing the wheel base entirely with a T818 or T818 Black Edition.

How Much Might You End Up Spending Over Two Years?

• Starting with the R5 Pro bundle (€419), then adding the SRP2 load-cell pedals (€159), a second wheel rim such as the CS Pro or KS Pro (€150 to €350), and a stand or cockpit such as the NLR GTElite (€200 to €400), gives an estimated total of between €930 and €1,330.
• With Fanatec, the 5 Nm Ready2Race (€379.95), Boost Kit (€99.95), Load Cell Kit (€79.95), a second wheel such as the CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT or ClubSport F1 Esports V2 (€140 to €350), and a CSL Cockpit V1.5 with seat (€200 to €400) put the total at roughly €900 to €1,310.
• With Thrustmaster, the bundle (€499.99), Raceline LC Upgrade (€139.99), an additional wheel such as the EVO Racing 32R Leather (€200 to €400), and a cockpit such as the Trak Racer TR8 Mach 3 (€200 to €400) add up to between €1,040 and €1,440.

These are estimates for building out an ecosystem, not mandatory costs. The important conclusion is something else: choosing a wheel base also means choosing the direction in which you are likely to spend your next €500 or €1,000.

How to Configure Force Feedback Without Relying on Fake Universal Recipes

There is no universal setting such as “set the game to 100%, the wheel base to 65% and damping to 3%”. Every simulator interprets its FFB controls differently, and the result is also affected by the car, wheel rim, rim diameter, tires, caster, aerodynamic load, filters, FFB update frequency and wheel-base mode.

What does work is a method. Start with the recommended profile for your wheel base and simulator, as all three manufacturers publish or integrate profiles for numerous titles. Then keep enough force available at the wheel base itself: Fanatec’s documentation in particular recommends not unnecessarily limiting physical output and then attempting to recover force by setting the in-game gain too high.

From there, adjust the game’s signal while monitoring clipping. The goal is not to make the steering wheel as heavy as possible, but to make normal forces clearly perceptible, preserve headroom for transients and prevent strong events from spending half a corner pinned at maximum output. Damping should only be added when needed, because while it can stabilize the wheel base and approximate the resistance of real steering, too much of it removes speed and detail. Finally, configure wheel-rim inertia correctly: this becomes especially important with large, heavy rims or when using a third-party wheel.

Which Direct Drive Wheel Base Should You Choose for Each Simulator?

iRacing

All three work with iRacing. Cars with high aerodynamic loads benefit from greater dynamic headroom, making the 8 Nm CSL DD particularly attractive. The R5 Pro counters with newly updated electronics and 1000 Hz USB polling, and with the simulator’s native FFB adjustments it should be possible to avoid clipping.

Assetto Corsa EVO & Assetto Corsa Competizione

Assetto Corsa Competizione generates substantial loads and it is easy to run too much gain. Here I would prioritize headroom over constant weight in the hands, and the 8 Nm CSL DD again has a clear quantitative advantage in maximum output.

Le Mans Ultimate

Le Mans Ultimate and rFactor 2 deliver exceptionally detailed FFB signals, and differences in smoothness, electronic control and wheel-rim inertia are particularly noticeable here. The R5 Pro is interesting for its resolution and electronics; the T598 for its axial architecture and the reduction in cogging claimed by the manufacturer.

Gran Turismo 7

Within this comparison there is no debate: T598 PlayStation, because neither the R5 Pro nor the CSL DD works on PS5. If you are also looking for the game, here is Gran Turismo 7.

F1 on Xbox

The CSL DD offers a relatively straightforward route if you use a compatible Xbox wheel, and the Ready2Race F1 Esports bundle is also available if you prefer a complete package. With the T598-X, remember that F1 23, F1 24 and F1 25 currently require LEGACY mode.

Rally

All three are perfectly capable in titles such as EA Sports WRC or Assetto Corsa Rally. A lightweight wheel rim helps make the most of the acceleration available from these entry-level wheel bases, and I would not choose any of them solely on its newton-meter figure: response speed and the wheel rim’s diameter and weight matter considerably more. A handbrake adds far more here than one extra newton-meter.

Truck Simulators

This is the area where MOZA has the clearest ecosystem advantage: there is an R5 Pro Truck Driving Simulator bundle with a 400 mm TSW Truck Wheel for €529 in Europe. The R5 Pro also supports up to 2700 degrees of rotation, compared with 2520 degrees on the CSL DD and 1080 degrees of manually selectable rotation on the T598.

Boxthislap Verdict by Buyer Profile

Best New Entry-Level Direct Drive Platform for PC: MOZA R5 Pro

The R5 Pro is extremely competitive at €419, with a DD wheel base, 280 mm ES Lite wheel with 22 programmable inputs, SR-P Lite2 pedals, table clamp, 21-bit encoder, 600 MHz CPU, 1000 Hz USB polling and NexGen 5.0. Its technological proposition is very strong.

What prevents me from declaring it the outright winner is that it has only just reached the market and has no long-term reliability history, it is PC-only, there is no simple torque upgrade available, and MOZA’s own documentation is inconsistent in describing its 6 Nm figure as “constant” in some places and “peak” in others. It is the recommendation for PC users who want a compact, modern and flexible entry point into the brand’s ecosystem.

View at MOZA: R5 Pro Bundle (€419), standard R5 (€399), R9 and R12.

Best for Maximum Power and Upgrade Potential: 8 Nm Fanatec CSL DD

In 2026, the CSL DD is a considerably more attractive product than it was at certain points in the past: you now get QR2, FullForce, a modern Fanatec App, an available Boost Kit, 8 Nm of peak torque, the cheapest route to a load cell on the market and a huge wheel catalog.

At current pricing, the 5 Nm Ready2Race costs €379.95 and the 8 Nm version €479.95. With only €100 between them, if you already know you want more dynamic headroom, I would buy the 8 Nm version from the outset.

The drawbacks are well known: no PlayStation support, a wheel ecosystem that is more closed than MOZA’s use of D1 Spec, Windows software required for firmware and configuration, no table clamp included in the bundle, and an older underlying architecture, albeit one that has been extensively updated through firmware. It is the choice for PC and Xbox users who prioritize torque, affordable upgrades and mature compatibility.

Buy: CSL DD QR2 and Ready2Race bundles at Fanatec or CSL DD QR2 on Amazon.

Best for PS5 and Mechanical Smoothness: Thrustmaster T598

If you play on PS5 Pro or PS5, the decision between these three is practically made for you, because the T598 is the only compatible option. But reducing it to platform compatibility would be unfair: it offers axial flux, a claimed 5 Nm of constant torque, up to 100% overshoot, a published 5 ms response time, a design Thrustmaster describes as cogging-free, Race Dash, Raceline Pedals and an official route to a load cell. It is a genuinely different proposition from MOZA and Fanatec.

Its weaknesses: a less open ecosystem, Windows-dependent firmware updates, an Xbox version with several compatibility details worth understanding beforehand, no Boost Kit-style power upgrade, and a complete bundle priced at €499.99 in the Spanish store at the time of this update. I recommend it for PS5 users, anyone who already owns Thrustmaster accessories, and those who want to try the axial-flux approach.

Buy: Thrustmaster T598. Accessories: Hypercar Wheel Add-On and TH8S Shifter.

Final Ranking by Priority

Best value for entry-level PC performance

MOZA R5 Pro. A complete €419 bundle built around a newly updated platform is very difficult to ignore.

Best force output and upgrade range

8 Nm Fanatec CSL DD. Moving from 5 to 8 Nm currently costs €100, while the load-cell upgrade costs another €79.95.

Best for PlayStation

Thrustmaster T598. It has no rival within this comparison, simply because the other two are not compatible.

Best for Xbox

Fanatec CSL DD, by a narrow margin. The T598-X is perfectly viable, but Fanatec handles compatibility more simply across many simulators and does not require users to manage NATIVE and LEGACY modes in titles such as F1.

Best quick release

Fanatec QR2.

Most open ecosystem for generic wheel rims

MOZA, thanks to D1 Spec compatibility.

Cheapest route to a load cell

Fanatec, with the CSL Pedals Load Cell Kit at €79.95.

Most distinctive motor design

Thrustmaster T598.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MOZA R5 Pro Really Have 6 Nm of Constant Torque?

MOZA describes it that way in its marketing copy, but the same family of technical documentation also lists “Peak Torque: 6 Nm”. Until the brand clarifies the terminology or independent measurements become available, we do not recommend using “6 Nm constant” as the basis for direct mathematical comparisons.

Are the CSL DD’s 8 Nm Better Than the R5 Pro’s 6 Nm?

You cannot reduce the comparison to eight being greater than six. Fanatec clearly specifies 8 Nm of peak torque, while MOZA’s description is inconsistent. What we can say with confidence is that the CSL DD with the Boost Kit has a substantially higher maximum force ceiling than its own standard 5 Nm mode.

Does the Thrustmaster T598 Reach 10 Nm?

Thrustmaster specifies 5 Nm of constant torque and up to 100% overshoot. Mathematically, that explains why transient forces can approach twice the constant level, but we would not describe it as a 10 Nm wheel base because it cannot sustain that value as its nominal torque output.

Do I Need the Fanatec Boost Kit?

Not necessarily. Five newton-meters already represents a major step up from an entry-level gear- or belt-driven wheel such as a Thrustmaster T248 or T248R. That said, at the current price of the 8 Nm Ready2Race, the difference is small enough that starting directly with 8 Nm makes a lot of sense if your budget allows it.

Can I Use a Wheel Rim From Another Brand?

With MOZA, yes mechanically if it uses D1 Spec, although buttons and paddles will require a separate connection to the PC. With Fanatec, there are hubs and QR2 adapters within the ecosystem, but you do not have the same freedom to simply attach any compatible quick release. Thrustmaster is primarily designed around its own Wheel Add-Ons.

Which Has the Best Pedals Out of the Box?

None of the three bundles includes a load cell. Thrustmaster’s Raceline LTE pedals have an interesting construction and a clear upgrade path; Fanatec offers the cheapest upgrade; and MOZA improves the SR-P Lite2 over the previous Lite pedals, with a clutch module and brake performance kit included in the bundle, but requires you to replace the pedal set—with the SR-P or CRP—if you want a true pressure sensor.

Which Direct Drive Wheel Base Would I Buy for PC?

At current prices, the R5 Pro if your budget is around €420, and the 8 Nm CSL DD if you can stretch to around €480 and want more upgrade headroom. The difference between them is small enough that budget and ecosystem matter more than any single specification.

Which Direct Drive Wheel Base Would I Buy for PS5?

The Thrustmaster T598, without overthinking it.

Which Direct Drive Wheel Base Would I Buy for Xbox?

The 8 Nm CSL DD if simulators and compatibility are your priorities; the T598-X if you already own Thrustmaster accessories or prefer its architecture and feel.