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Before getting into the bundle itself, a necessary disclosure. Moza provided the R5 Pro at no cost for review. Moza is also a paid sponsor of the channel, but the company had no input on this article and did not see it before publication. As always, all thoughts and opinions here are entirely my own.
The Moza R5 Pro bundle is one of the most interesting value propositions in sim racing right now. For $399, Moza includes a direct drive wheel base producing a constant 6 Nm of torque, a round steering wheel, a two-pedal set, and a table clamp. More importantly, this is not simply the old R5 placed into a new box. The wheel base has received meaningful improvements that make the complete package noticeably more capable.
There are still compromises, especially with the pedals, and none of the included hardware is pretending to be premium. But as a starting point for someone moving up from a controller or an older gear-driven wheel, the R5 Pro gets a surprising amount right.
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The included SR-P Lite 2 pedals are a two-pedal set, with an optional clutch sold separately. They are made mostly from metal, use Hall effect sensors, offer some positioning adjustment, and look better than many basic pedals included with entry-level bundles.
The problem is the feel. In standard form, the throttle and brake rely on soft springs with very little resistance or definition. The brake feels linear and vague, making consistent braking harder than it should be. The low resistance does help keep the pedals usable on the floor, but it also gives them a noticeably entry-level feel underfoot.
Moza offers separate brake and throttle performance kits that add heavier elastomers and more resistance. These take seconds to install and clearly improve the feel, especially under braking. Even then, the pedals remain beginner hardware, but they are acceptable within a $399 bundle and give new users somewhere to start. They will probably be the first part competitive drivers want to replace.
The included Moza ES steering wheel remains mostly unchanged. It measures 280 mm in diameter, making it small but versatile across road cars, GT racing, and some open-wheel driving. The rim and faceplate use aluminum alloy, while the polyurethane grips have a lightly textured finish that feels more substantial than the plain plastic found on many cheaper wheels.
There are 22 inputs, including a directional pad, and everything is easy to reach because of the compact size. The buttons feel similar to those on an inexpensive controller, while the metallic paddle shifters use microswitches rather than magnetic mechanisms. They provide a clear click, but not the firmer action found on more expensive wheels.
Out on track, the ES does what it needs to do. It remains rigid enough at the full output of the base, the grips stay comfortable, and its low weight helps preserve force feedback detail. The 10 RGB rev lights are another welcome feature. The standard bundle is PC-only, though the separately sold ESX wheel should add Xbox compatibility when paired with the base.
The wheel base is easily the strongest part of the package. It is remarkably compact, yet the updated motor now delivers a constant 6 Nm of torque. Moza has also fitted a 21-bit magnetic encoder and a 600 MHz processor, the same processor used in the flagship R25. In practice, the result is genuinely impressive for the size and price.
The aluminum alloy housing follows Moza’s newer, understated design language and feels sturdy despite the tiny footprint. Front and bottom mounting are supported, while the included clamp makes desk use straightforward. Around the back are connections for pedals, power, shifters, handbrakes, and other Moza accessories. The power button is also back there, which remains unnecessarily inconvenient.
Across iRacing and Assetto Corsa, the R5 Pro delivered more clarity and texture than I expected. Road surfaces, grip changes, weight transfer, suspension movement, kerbs, and other useful details came through clearly enough to understand what the car was doing. At 6 Nm, it obviously lacks the strength and dynamic range of more expensive bases, but it still communicates the important information without feeling slow or muted.
I found the experience more engaging in Assetto Corsa than in iRacing. Assetto Corsa produced stronger road texture and a more obvious sense of the car’s weight, while the finer details in iRacing felt slightly more subdued, even with 360 Hz force feedback support. That difference seems mostly software-related.
The motor is generally smooth, though I occasionally noticed a slightly elastic feeling as the wheel returned to center after certain kerbs. It felt almost like a rubber band pulling the wheel back into place. Adjusting damping reduced it, but I was never able to remove it completely. It was not constant, though it was noticeable enough to mention.
After several hours in iRacing, the housing became warm to the touch, but there was no noticeable loss of torque, responsiveness, or detail. In Assetto Corsa with clipping prevention disabled, the wheel base became considerably hotter. Even then, I did not experience any clear fading or reduction in performance.
Moza Pit House gives users control over strength, damping, road sensitivity, wheel speed, and many other characteristics. The software is intuitive and works well, though more polished presets for the major simulations would improve the out-of-box experience for beginners.
The R5 Pro makes the most sense for someone buying their first serious sim racing setup. It includes every major control needed to start driving, fits easily on a desk, and leaves room for gradual upgrades. Anyone moving from a controller or an older Logitech or Thrustmaster wheel should notice a substantial improvement in smoothness, responsiveness, and connection to the car.
More experienced drivers may find the pedals basic and the 6 Nm output limiting, especially if they are already used to stronger hardware. But that is not really the target audience. The R5 Pro is designed to make direct drive approachable without turning the first purchase into a much larger commitment.
The Moza R5 Pro bundle gets the fundamentals right. For $399, it includes everything required to begin sim racing with direct drive, and none of the individual components completely undermine the experience. The pedals are basic, the wheel is simple, and the base still has a few characteristics that could use refinement, but the complete package remains usable, well built, and easy to upgrade.
The wheel base is especially impressive considering its remarkably small size. It will not deliver the strength or dynamic range of a higher-end unit, but it gives beginners enough information to learn, improve, and enjoy the experience without immediately feeling held back. For anyone starting from scratch, upgrading from a controller, or moving beyond a gear-driven wheel without spending much more, the R5 Pro is easy to recommend.
