Simucube 2 Ultimate Review: Can This ¥400,000 Flagship Recreate F3-Level Steering?

My conclusion first: even in 2026, the Simucube 2 Ultimate is the ultimate form of a sim racing wheel base. This Finnish high-end direct drive racing wheel costs around ¥400,000. With roughly 32 N·m of peak torque, the tuning freedom of the OpenSimwheel system, and the ability to recreate the exceptionally heavy steering of F3, F2, and F1-level race cars, it delivers something beyond the Fanatec DD2 / DD1. But it is also an extreme piece of hardware that is not for the average buyer: its setup is highly technical, I would not recommend it as a first racing wheel, and its initial profiles can easily produce excessive feedback.

My verdict in 30 seconds

Based on what I covered across seven Picar Channel videos, the Simucube 2 Ultimate is the ultimate sim racing wheel base—but one for setup enthusiasts and drivers pursuing F3-level realism. It reaches a different place from the Fanatec DD2 / DD1, and it is one of the rare units capable of fully recreating the torque of a real F3 car. I would absolutely not recommend it as your first racing wheel, however.

What is the Simucube 2 Ultimate? Finland's flagship sim racing wheel base

Simucube is a high-end direct drive racing wheel brand from Granite Devices, based in Tampere, Finland. As the flagship of the Simucube 2 series, the Ultimate maintains its position at the top of sim racing wheel bases, with a price of around ¥400,000 and performance also used in professional simulators.

To explore the wider range, also see my Simucube 2 Pro Review: Is the 25 N·m Mid-Range Answer Between the Sport and Ultimate? and Simucube 2 Sport Review: Does the 17 N·m Simucube Entry Model Fully Cover Practical Use?.

At the high end, there are brands such as Fanatec and Simucube. Simucube in particular uses a system called direct drive, where the steering wheel is mounted directly to the motor, so you can experience highly accurate and powerful force feedback—the forces coming back through the road. However, Simucube is very expensive and its setup is highly technical, so I would not really recommend it as a first racing wheel.

— From Picar Channel, “The highly capable, affordable CSL DD racing wheel has launched”

That blunt assessment—“I would not recommend it as a first racing wheel”—shows where Simucube sits: the destination for advanced users, and an option for people with no ceiling on their hardware investment.

Key specifications

The OpenSimwheel system: profiles can transform the feel

The Simucube 2 Ultimate's biggest feature is its use of OpenSimwheel, an open-source system whose setup profiles can dramatically change the feel.

Simucube uses an open-source system called OpenSimwheel. Its biggest feature is that the feel changes dramatically depending on the profile—the force feedback settings. This time, I downloaded and used the most popular GT3/GT profile. As soon as I gripped the wheel, I was struck by how quickly the torque built up and the sensation of the wheel tightening up. That comes from the capability of Simucube's motor. But with the initial profile, I got the impression that the road surface gaps were being represented too large. It felt as if it was picking up more road information than necessary and feeding it back excessively. There were also times when the CSL DD felt more natural and easier to drive.

— From Picar Channel, “No-holds-barred racing wheel test: ¥50,000 vs. ¥400,000”

“The wheel tightening up,” “road gaps represented too large,” and “excessive feedback” are sensations I associate with Simucube. Because the setup changes the result so much, dialing it in to your own taste is part of the enjoyment. At the same time, there is a trap: it can feel unnatural if you simply use the initial profile as-is.

The world of F3 / F2-level race car reproduction

Simucube's biggest strength is that you can make the wheel exceptionally heavy. For sim racers who want to perfectly recreate the feel of race cars with very heavy steering, such as F3 and F2, Simucube is one of a kind and will be an essential choice. On the other hand, if you are enjoying most other sims, including Assetto Corsa, the Fanatec CSL DD will be more than satisfying.

— From the same video

A real F3 car is in a world where roughly 30 N·m of steering torque is required. At 32 N·m, the Simucube 2 Ultimate is one of the few pieces of hardware that can recreate this, reaching territory that even the Fanatec DD2 (25 N·m) does not fully cover.

A direct iRacing comparison with the Fanatec DD1

A video directly comparing the Simucube 2 Ultimate and Fanatec DD1 at Spa-Francorchamps in iRacing is valuable testing for understanding Simucube's character.

With its initial settings, the Simucube 2 Ultimate gave a completely different impression from Fanatec. First, the wheel diameter felt larger, and on the initial runs there were parts that felt cheap. In particular, the rubbery feel of the tires was faint—as if the tires had become harder. Compared with Fanatec, there were many moments when I felt it did not provide enough information and was easier to spin. The vibration when riding over kerbs felt realistic, but overall the weight felt spring-like, pointing in a different direction from Fanatec.

— From Picar Channel, “The ultimate racing wheel: Fanatec DD1 vs. Simucube 2 Ultimate”

My impressions of it as “cheap” in the initial settings, with a weak rubbery tire feel, insufficient information, and spring-like weight, show that the Simucube is hardware that can transform with setup. The Fanatec DD1 offers polished Fanatec tuning out of the box; Simucube follows the different design philosophy of an open-source system that expects the user to dial it in.

Simucube Link Hub: completing the setup with an expansion hub

This Link Hub is an expansion hub designed specifically for Simucube 2 series direct drive racing wheels. …The hub's most important connection is the Link port on the Simucube 2 series wheel base itself. Specifically, it can be used with every model in the Simucube 2 series: Simucube 2 Pro, Simucube 2 Sport, and Simucube 2 Ultimate.

— From Picar Channel, “What is the Simucube Link Hub?”

The Simucube Link Hub is a proprietary hub for consolidating multiple dedicated Simucube devices, such as shifters and handbrakes. It is a key peripheral for building out a complete Simucube ecosystem.

Who it is—and is not—for

✅ Recommended for

• Serious drivers seeking a complete recreation of F3 / F2 / F1-level race car steering
• Advanced users who can devote time to configuring OpenSimwheel system profiles
• People who want professional-grade quality in a personal setup
• Business owners with no fixed budget ceiling for sim racing hardware

❌ Not recommended for

• Your first direct drive racing wheel → CSL DD (¥47,000) or DD Pro (¥90,000–¥120,000)
• Anyone wanting a polished experience out of the box → Fanatec DD2 (the ultimate PC option)
• PS5 users → DD1 / DD Extreme (PS5 compatible)
• Intermediate drivers who feel “5–8 N·m is enough in practical use” → 32 N·m is overkill

Related videos

• The ultimate racing wheel: Fanatec DD1 vs. Simucube 2 Ultimate
• No-holds-barred racing wheel test: ¥50,000 vs. ¥400,000
• The highly capable, affordable CSL DD racing wheel has launched
• What is the Simucube Link Hub?

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Which is better, the Simucube 2 Ultimate or Fanatec DD2?

A. The Simucube leads in peak torque and setup freedom (32 vs. 25 N·m). The Fanatec DD2 has the advantage in out-of-the-box refinement and ecosystem breadth. Choose Simucube if you can dial in the settings; choose DD2 if you want a polished experience immediately.

Q2. Can I use the initial profile?

A. You can, but there will be situations where it feels unnatural. I found that “with the initial profile, the road surface gaps were being represented too large.” Switching to a community-made profile such as a GT3/GT profile is recommended.

Q3. Can I use it on PS5?

A. No. It is PC only. For high-end direct drive on PS5, the Fanatec DD1 or DD Extreme are options.

Q4. Is the Simucube Link Hub essential?

A. It is not essential, but you will need it when using dedicated Simucube shifters or handbrakes. It is a key part of running the Simucube ecosystem as an integrated setup.