Moza Racing R3 Kit

Moza Racing have really gone from absolute brilliance to absolute brilliance in recent years, and that’s after a shaky start when the flawed R16 first appeared to be possibly the worst direct drive steering wheel I’ve ever tested. Today, the tables have turned. The R16 is as good as the R12 and R9, where good build quality, good force feedback, sensible software and really good price points make them a brilliant alternative in the ever-expanding world of sim racing.

Their latest product is the R3 Bundle, a new entry-level steering wheel base that only holds a 3.9Nm direct drive motor, their entry-level SR-P Lite pedals, and the Pretzel ES, which of course can’t compete with some of the more expensive products from the manufacturer. Let me start by saying that 3.9Nm is way, way, way, way too little for my taste, no matter what racing game I’m playing. Actually, 9Nm is too little for me, who is currently using a 20Nm steering wheel base and has it set at about 52%. I like a strong FFB. I like to really feel the power in the front of the car when I turn, I like to get a little tired when I scrape one of the front fenders against an opponent’s car while overtaking, and I like it to feel like a car, not a video game or toy.

The R3 doesn’t feel like a car. Not in Assetto Corsa, Automobilista 2, Iracing, EA Sports WRC, Le Mans Ultimate, Raceroom, Dirt Rally 2.0, or Assetto Corsa Competizione. The 3.9Nm makes it feel more like a belt-driven Logitech steering wheel than anything else (although the FFB’s detail is of course improved thanks to the servo motor and better telemetry protocol), and I’d never want to live with that steering wheel base. That said, there are plenty of casual drivers who don’t want to spend the ridiculously high entry price on wheels, bases, pedals, and more. Of course, there are plenty of gamers who don’t need 12-13Nm of torque in a steering wheel base, who don’t want to risk damaging their thumbs and wrists if they hit the dust on a wall at Bathurst, and who also don’t intend to mount their gadgets in a full-size 80/40 aluminum setup. For these gamers, the R3 is certainly a brilliant compromise.

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Because you get the complete package here. Ready 2 Race, as it’s called in the racing sim world. The set includes the R3 wheel base, EA’s pretzel, pedals, and a smooth and solidly made desk mount, and considering it’s also Moza’s first Xbox-compatible wheel, you can also connect the cable to the Series X and go wild in Forza Horizon 5 with this low-priced kit. Although the wheel’s motor torque is a bit too low for my taste, I have to say I like the level of detail. Feeling the car’s center of gravity and the way the curbs make the tires vibrate as I drive over them in Assetto Corsa Competizione is a nice feeling that no belt/chain-driven wheel base of roughly the same strength can compete with. That has to be said. I also like the shape of the base, which is super easy to mount and adjust thanks to its minimal physical size.

Unfortunately the pedals aren’t all that effective. The SR-P, like the entry-level Fanatec pedals (CSL), are really flimsy and feel more like a pressed foil wrapped around to ‘just’ get the car rolling than they do any real race car feel. The throttle is too soft. The brakes are too weak, which I knew beforehand. You can’t really expect much more from a set that starts at £399 for everything, but these pedals are nothing to shout about.

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What about the crank? Fine. The ES Wheel is fine, as is the Fanatec Entry-Level WRC Wheel. It’s made of plastic, feels a bit plasticky, and the 22 buttons feel a bit plasticky, but considering the whole package costs £399 instead of twice that, there’s nothing to complain about. Moza’s fantastic (NRG-style) quick release mechanism is of course included, and as I said, it’s brilliant. As always. That goes for the software, too, which Moza has really honed into a real little gem over the past year. Connecting your Moza gadgets, calibrating and setting them up is straightforward, and the software is clean and stylish in a way that’s just right.

If I was only going to spend around £500 for the whole package (wheel base, wheel, pedals), I’d buy the Fanatec CSL DD Ready 2 Race Bundle over the Moza R3, mainly because then I get a beefy 5Nm wheel base that can squeeze out 8Nm with the Aliexpress-AC adapter for a few hundred dollars more. That’s my choice. That said, this bundle isn’t compatible with Xbox (PC only), which means I’d naturally recommend the Moza R3 bundle for those looking to run Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5, rather than the titles I tested with this steering wheel bundle. Ultimately, the R3 bundle is a little underpowered for its own good, but at this price it’s certainly not a bad deal.