Logitech G920 review: Shift your Xbox One racing experience up a few gears

If you want to get really serious with your virtual racing, then you want a wheel. There are a few options out there, some reasonably affordable, even. One of our current favorites for the Xbox One is the Thrustmaster TX, which we found to give the best experience available the time back when we first reviewed it.

Logitech then came out with its own competitor and the company's first wheel for the Xbox One. The G920 follows on from a series of substantial efforts on the PC and is very much something you should consider.

Logitech G920: Price and availability

Thrustmaster sells the G920 racing wheel through third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $400 MSRP. Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC using the included USB cable, it comes boxed with a set of pedals. Since its release, the price has dropped significantly and can often be found for $200 or less.

Logitech G920: Impressions

First up let's examine what you actually get for your money. The standard box comes with the G920 base set up which includes the wheel and the accompanying pedals. For a little extra, you can also pick up the manual shifter to go with it. It's not essential since you have the paddle shift on the wheel, but if you prefer something more traditional, it's there for you.

On the wheel, you have everything you'd hope and expect to find. Besides being a kick ass way to interact with driving games you also need it to act as a regular controller. You know so that you can navigate around said driving games.

Those controls are all towards the center of the wheel, but not so far out of reach that it becomes uncomfortable to reach in a hurry. The center spokes are metal, as are the paddles, and the wheel is trimmed nicely in leather.

Make no mistake this is a quality product, and you're reminded of that every time you touch it.

The pedals are an equally solid affair, with some realistic medal, 'sporty' plates on the accelerator, brake, and clutch, with slip resistant rubber pads to help keep you in control. The optional manual shifter is trimmed in leather on both the knob and gaiter and operates in a five gear pattern with reverse.

Touching on that quickly before going on, the limited gears are one reason why for games like Forza or Project Cars, you might not need it. The Bugatti Veyron has more gears than that for one!

But if you do use it you'll be very pleased. It feels just like the real thing with a smooth transition between gears but with just enough resistance to give you a sense of realism. And being trimmed in leather means it'll stand up to hours of sweaty palms without getting too greasy.

Hooking up the wheel to your Xbox is easy. You have a wire to connect the pedals to the wheel, a power cable, and one to hook up the manual shifter to the wheel (if you're using that). Then a single cable goes to the USB input on the Xbox One. Underneath you have some clamps to make sure it holds firmly in place while you're hitting the tarmac.

That's something to make sure you've considered, too, before you pick up one of these. You can get specialist stands and racing seat set ups to attach your wheel too, but they can be expensive. But you're not going to have a good time unless you have space in your room.

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Once you're ready to roll the Xbox One should just recognize it as it does any other controller. Games like Forza 6 and Project Cars have full steering wheel support and as such you can go right into those games and set things up to your liking.

I'm no stranger to the world of racing, and a fun fact is I hold a real life MSA racing license here in the UK. I'm no Jenson Button, but I have at least been out on a real track in a real race car and even had a small crash.

But going into racing virtually with a wheel has a real learning curve. No matter how good the experience is, it's not like driving a real car. And if you've played racing games with a controller for well over a decade now, as I have, it takes some adjusting to get used to it.

The G920 though was the perfect tool for the job. The combination of the top class hardware and the accuracy in the motors underneath do give you a feeling of realism. You're not just aimlessly turning the wheel; you need to be accurate, and you get feedback. It's comforting.

The pedals have differing levels of resistance, just as they would in a car, so you're never left wondering which you're actually pressing as things get hectic. They're also spaced out well enough for left foot braking if you want to get really fancy.

Logitech G920: Should you buy?

I'm still probably faster on Forza even to this day with a controller than with a wheel, but the G920 adds a new dimension to the experience. An aspect that makes me say "just one more race" every time. It's such an engaging piece of hardware that transforms the experience.

Is it better than the Thrustmaster TX? I can't say 100% as I haven't personally used that one. But I'd certainly recommend you buy the G920. If you're looking for a great wheel for your Xbox One, there's nothing negative I can say about it. It's even come down a bit in price since it first launched which makes it even more tempting.

If you've looked at this and wondered, then wonder no longer. Pick one up, and you won't be disappointed.