In-Depth Review: SimPlicity SW20 V3 DD – The Underrated Direct Drive Wheelbase for Sim Racing

When you think of direct drive wheelbases in sim racing, names like Fanatec, Simucube, or even Simagic might spring to mind first. But tucked away from mainstream attention is a British brand that many passionate sim racers swear by — SimPlicity. For this review, I spent hours with the SimPlicity SW20 V3 DD wheelbase, a 20 Nm direct drive unit that aims to deliver pro-level force feedback without breaking the bank.

What Is the SimPlicity SW20 V3 DD?

The SimPlicity SW20 V3 DD is a 20 Nm direct drive wheelbase, designed and manufactured by SimPlicity, a small sim racing hardware company based in London, UK.
Unlike belt or gear-driven units, direct drive wheelbases use a powerful motor directly connected to the steering shaft, giving higher fidelity feedback and far more accurate force detail.

✔️ Target audience:
• Intermediate to advanced sim racers
• Users looking for high-quality force feedback under premium brand pricing
• PC racers who want detailed road feel and car behavior feedback

First Impressions: Packaging & Build Quality

Straight out of the box, the SW20 V3 DD feels solid and well constructed. The wheelbase casing has a no-nonsense, industrial aesthetic, without flashy RGB or unnecessary gimmicks. Even the physical finish and machining quality feel reassuringly sturdy — a good first sign for long-term durability.

Testing Environment & Setup

My test rig was set up with the SW20 mounted on a sturdy cockpit, paired with Assetto Corsa as the primary sim for evaluation. Initial setup was straightforward, though the lack of official plug-and-play profiles meant I went in without presets and dialed in settings manually.

Force Feedback Performance — First Session Notes

On first driving attempts, I wrote down a few key observations: (SIMRACINGCOCKPIT.GG)

🔸 The wheel had strong counter rotation resistance — making small inputs feel heavy
🔸 The feedback felt slightly delayed at first
🔸 It was reluctant to accept very fast or aggressive steering inputs
🔸 Overall resistance felt higher than expected

But these weren’t flaws — just part of the SW20’s character at default settings, and something that tuning would quickly address.

Fine-Tuning the SW20 V3 DD

Here’s where the wheelbase shines. With careful tweaking of force feedback parameters, including Weight, Weighted Center, and Max Speed, the SW20 transformed from stiff and muted into a responsive and nuanced machine. (SIMRACINGCOCKPIT.GG)

✔️ Key adjustments that helped most:
• Reducing Weight to eliminate excessive resistance
• Tweaking Weighted Center to improve initial steering feel
• Increasing Max Speed to allow quick wheel rotations

After about 30 minutes of tuning, the wheel showed its true potential — delivering much smoother, more accurate feedback and a more intuitive feel overall.

Detailed Force Feedback Evaluation

Road Feel & Detail

Once tuned properly, the SW20 V3 DD delivers exceptionally fine detail through the wheel. You can feel nuances like:

• Surface changes and bumps
• Weight transfer under cornering
• Tire slip onset
• Curb impacts

This level of clarity often rivals (and in some cases surpasses) much more expensive direct drive wheelbases.

Responsiveness

Properly configured, the wheel reacts instantly to changes in simulation physics. Steering inputs feel direct, and the motor does not introduce lag or smoothing that dulls real behavior — something many advanced racers will appreciate.

Comparisons with Other DD Wheels

In my experience and in community feedback, the SW20 holds its own against more mainstream direct drive models such as Fanatec’s DD2. Many users find that the SW20’s feedback feels smoother and more “analog-like” rather than twitchy or overly processed — a massive plus for realistic sim racing.

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros:
• Highly detailed, intuitive force feedback
• Excellent value vs performance
• Strong build quality and reliability
• Many tuning options for personal driving style

👎 Cons:
• Setup requires tuning skill
• Limited official support or presets
• Software ecosystem isn’t as polished as bigger brands

Conclusion — A Hidden Gem for Serious Racers

The SimPlicity SW20 V3 DD stands out as a high-performance direct drive wheelbase that offers real racing feedback without the premium price tag of other big brands. It demands a little time investment in setup, but the results are absolutely worth it — especially if you’re serious about feeling what your sim car is doing under every tire.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.7/5)