Fanatec CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT Wheel - Detailed Review

Today we’re taking a detailed look at the new Fanatec CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT steering wheel, a real-life incarnation of the wheel found in the Porsche Vision GT concept car in Gran Turismo 7. This unique offering sits within Fanatec’s CSL Elite range, though it presents itself with a more premium feel than previous CSL wheels. With its distinctive design, and official Porsche licensing, this wheel targets a specific segment of sim racers looking for an authentic GT experience. But with a higher price point than other CSL Elite products, does it deliver enough value to justify the investment? Let’s dive in and find out exactly what this wheel brings to your sim racing setup.

The CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT offers a surprising level of build quality for a wheel in the CSL range. The internal aluminum structure provides good rigidity overall, though there is noticeable flex in the bottom section where the rotary encoders are located. The Tactaris microfiber material covering the grip areas and center section looks premium and feels pleasant to touch—comparable to Alcantara but reportedly more resistant to sweat and wear. The wheel’s buttons have a satisfying click without the cheap plastic feel found in earlier CSL wheels. Most touch points are plastic rather than metal, which is a missed opportunity at this price point. The shifters are a genuine highlight, featuring metal construction with neodymium magnets and Hall effect sensors that eliminate the mechanical switches found in lower-tier wheels. The QR2 Lite quick release does introduce some flex, but not enough to significantly impact driving experience. Overall, it presents a more premium feel than you might expect from a CSL product, though it doesn’t match the build quality of wheels costing significantly more.

The CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT offers surprisingly good ergonomics despite its distinctive design. At 310mm in diameter, it sits on the larger side of the GT wheel spectrum — bigger than the 280mm GT DD Pro and 300mm GT DD Extreme and McLaren GT3 wheels. This additional size actually works in its favor, providing a comfortable grip position for a variety of driving styles.

The Tactaris microfiber material covering the grip areas feels excellent in hand—soft and plush without becoming tacky or collecting dirt like some suede-style materials can. It works well with or without gloves, and after several hours of testing, showed no signs of wear, though long-term durability is yet to be seen.

Button placement is thoughtfully designed, with most controls accessible without shifting your grip position. You can reach four push buttons, a thumb encoder, and the shifters without moving your hands from the default position. The seven-way switch on the left side provides intuitive menu navigation.

One minor ergonomic issue worth noting is the gap between the wheel rim and the lower structure that can occasionally pinch skin when driving barehanded. This wasn’t a problem with gloves, but might require some grip adjustment for those driving without them.

The wheel’s overall layout feels natural for GT-style driving, and its rounded top section makes it more versatile than expected, working well for both GT and road cars. Despite its specialized aesthetic, it offers better all-around usability than its distinctive Porsche branding might suggest.

The CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT wheel makes significant strides in input quality compared to previous CSL offerings. The buttons provide satisfying tactile feedback, though the all-plastic encoders feels like a missed opportunity at this price point. Encoders feature a deliberate, tactile click that many users have requested in Fanatec products for years. This makes precise adjustments possible without visual confirmation – crucial during intense racing. While the resistance might be slightly too stiff for some bare-handed users, particularly for the thumb encoders, it’s great with gloves. The sophisticated array of input options, including multi-functional encoders and switches, provides excellent versatility for both console and PC racing, though metal touch points would have elevated the premium feel substantially.

The CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT, like Fanatec’s entire wheel range, shines in its software integration, featuring Fanatec’s reliable driver system and the convenient on-wheel tuning menu accessible through the Porsche crest button. The small but functional OLED display allows for easy profile switching, force feedback adjustments, and other settings without needing to exit your game. Five customizable profiles can be accessed directly on the wheel, making complete settings overhauls for a change of cars extremely simple. The integration with Gran Turismo 7 is particularly seamless, with the rotary encoders automatically assigned to key vehicle settings for intuitive adjustments on the fly.

Conclusion

The Fanatec CSL Elite Porsche Vision GT wheel delivers an interesting mix of premium design elements and mid-range functionality. As the most expensive CSL Elite wheel to date, it occupies a unique position in Fanatec’s lineup – more refined than entry-level offerings but without all the premium features found in higher-end wheels. Its greatest strengths lie in the exceptional magnetic shifters, premium Tactaris microfiber material, and satisfying rotary encoders that provide significant upgrades over previous CSL wheels. The aluminum structure and distinctive design make it visually impressive, while its ergonomics proved surprisingly versatile across different racing styles. However, the higher price point makes the plastic button touch points and lack of RGB lighting more difficult to overlook. For Gran Turismo 7 enthusiasts and Porsche fans, this wheel provides an authentic connection to the Vision GT concept car that justifies the premium, but others might find better value elsewhere in Fanatec’s ecosystem. Overall, it’s a capable and attractive wheel that delivers a solid experience, even if it doesn’t quite reach the value proposition of some competitors.