Our Verdict
Pros
- Good quality material on wheel rim
- Multiple QR adapters included
- A lot of functionality
- Well priced
Cons
- Cheaper material on wheel hub
- No multi-position switches
- No LED backlit buttons
After years of other sim racing brands modernising sim racing with small direct drive racing wheels alongside a wave of new sim racing brands launching, Thrustmaster has started updating its product lineup. Once seen as one of the best sim racing brands, in recent years, Thrustmaster hasn’t entirely kept up with other brands.
The release of the T818 direct drive wheel base changed that by bringing Thrustmaster closer to the competition in the direct-drive space. Now, Thrustmaster has released its EVO Racing range of products, which includes a new wheel hub and a wheel rim. The EVO Racing Hub and 32R wheel are designed directly for the T818 wheel base and are set to be the foundation for Thrustmaster’s future.
I’m going to look at and review the rally-focused EVO Racing 32R Leather steering wheel to see if this new generation of Thrustmaster products is worth considering.
What is the Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R steering wheel?
The new EVO Racing 32 Leather wheel combines a new wheel hub, the EVO Racing hub, and the 32R Leather wheel rim. Thrustmaster is approaching this new generation of steering wheels in a similar way to Asetek who released a wheel hub and series of wheel rims last year.
Thrustmaster has created a wheel hub designed specifically for the T818 wheel base, but it is universal, allowing it to be used with a range of different steering wheels. The EVO wheel hub itself includes all of the electronics required to allow you to interact with your car while sim racing.
Price
The Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R Leather wheel is relatively well-priced compared to other steering wheels. It can be purchased for €299.99 / $299.99 / £269.99 as a complete wheel that includes the wheel hub and wheel rim.
- Buy the Thrustmaster EVO 32R wheel (United States) – $299.99
- Buy the Thrustmaster EVO 32R wheel (Europe) – €299.99
- Buy the Thrustmaster EVO 32R wheel (UK) – £269.99
In comparison, MOZA Racing have both the CS V2 and RS V2 which are both comparable to this wheel. They come in at $279 and $439. The closest Fanatec wheel to this in terms of design and functionality is their ClubSport GT wheel with the Universal Hub V2, and that retails for €379.95.
As you can see, the Thrustmaster EVO 32R is cheaper than the Fanatec equivalent and priced competitively against MOZA Racing.
| Racing wheel | Price | |
|---|---|---|
 | Fanatec ClubSport GT | €/$379.95 |
 | MOZA RS V2 | €/$439.00 |
 | Thrustmaster EVO 32R | €/$299.99 |
Features
The wheel hub itself has a good amount of functionality. Multiple inputs let you really control your car in-game, and there is also a fair bit of adjustability.
There are a range of push buttons styled rather similarly to those found on a MOZA steering wheel. Unlike most MOZA wheels, these push buttons aren’t LED backlit. Instead, each button is numbered with a different-coloured sticker.
You also get four front-facing rotary encoders that let you adjust your car’s settings in the game, such as traction control and ABS. Each encoder works well, but it’s important to note that they cannot be used as multi-position switches; they are just traditional encoders.
Across the top of the wheel hub are a series of rev lights that take a fairly unique approach. They are individual plastic lights positioned on the top of the wheel hub. This is obviously done so the rev lights don’t interfere with the wheel rim and make them slightly more universal regardless of which wheel rim you use. However, it’s a slightly weird approach that I’m not massively keen on.
Around the back is a set of very large magnetic paddle shifters. These are constructed from metal and dampened quite nicely, so they aren’t too loud. The shifters can be adjusted either out or in to fit all wheel rims, which is a nice touch to ensure compatibility.
Quick release
The 32R