PXN V9 Gen2 review: A surprisingly capable budget wheel

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The PXN V9 Gen2 promises upgrades to a budget-friendly steering wheel. But is it a successful sequel or a sub-par showing? Here are the pros, cons and whether it is worth buying.

Some moons ago I did a comparison of the V9 vs the V10 and concluded that the V9 was more suited to casual driving fun – for younger gamers or games where precision and pace are less required. Dearest SnowRunner being a prime example.

Having already reviewed the V10 successor known as the V99, I am now here to shed light on the V9 Gen2, which in the PXN range sits above the V900 Gen2 and V3 Pro and below the V10, V99, V12 Lite and top-spec V12. Continue watching to see the unboxing, setup and driving impressions of various games on PC and Xbox.

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Speedy disclaimer: Chinese manufacturer PXN sent me the V9 Gen2 and paid me to make a video, but had no input on my ever-grumpy, journalistic views.

PXN V9 Gen2 unboxing & setup

Before we get to the nitty gritty details, it is time for an unboxing montage. So you know exactly what you get for your hard-earned money. Readers, watch the forthcoming video to see!

PXN V9 Gen2 vs V9: The pedals

The pedals are seemingly unchanged from the original V9. From left to right, there is a clutch, brake and accelerator. All feature hall magnetic sensors to account for foot force. Rivals around this price-point typically do not have a clutch, including PXN’s own V900 Gen2 and V3 Pro.

You get metal coverings and a fold-out plastic base for grip. Spacing between the pedals is sufficient enough for all but Big Foot. However, the lack of pedal position adjustability might be an issue for some.

Numerous rubber pads on the pedal base keep the pedals still on wood and laminate, but may struggle on carpets without the addition of carpet spikes.

There are no screw holes to mount the pedal base to a sim rig or wheel stand without either velcro, improvisation, drilling or a mixture of all three.

Flex can be felt in the pedal arm while the metal spring arrangement for pedal resistance and rebound is somewhat crude. Though that also means it is probably more easily repairable.

The 6+1 gear shifter

Next, the mostly plastic 6+1 gear shifter. Named so because you get six forward gears and reverse, which is accessible by pushing down on the gear knob and going into sixth.

Behind the stick are two buttons. One is for swapping between high and low gears and the other for operating the handbrake. Both can assigned to other functions.

As for the V99 and V10 metal gaiter, it has been replaced by a rubber cover. Better for keeping dust and liquid at bay, no doubt. However, you could argue it looks less race car and more typical runaround.

For fixing the gearstick to a solid surface, there is an in-built plastic clamp. The maximum thickness it can accommodate is 48mm (1.89 inches) – 12mm (0.47 inches) less than the steering wheel clamps I shall talk about shortly.

Removing the clamp base allows you to directly attach the 6+1 shifter to any surface more convincingly, using the four black screws removed in the process. Though you will likely need to get the drill out again.

While the cable extending from the 6+1 shifter is non-detachable for the V9 Gen2 as it was the V9, the former now has a newer Type-C connection on the other end as opposed to the more common USB male or Type-B.

Not that it matters much as neither the shifter nor the pedals can be connected directly to PC or console. Meaning, you will always have to connect them directly to the wheelbase.

The PXN Wheel app

The PXN Wheel app exists for fine-tuning settings from the comfort of a tablet or smartphone. It is available on Android and iOS. Search for PXN Wheel then download, install and open the app.

It allows you to update firmware, if available, as well as set game-specific configurations such as Euro Truck Simulator 2 seen in this video, read the instruction manual, adjust the maximum wheel rotation, set the vibration level, adjust or disable the lighting and assign buttons.

All you have to do is enable Bluetooth on your phone or tablet, then connect to the PXN V9 Gen2 steering wheel.

The pre-made configurations I tested mostly work well. I just wish there were more of them, as on PC you usually need to assign all buttons manually and the process varies from game to game.

The wheel and wheelbase

Last but not least, the 28cm (11-inch) steering wheel and wheelbase. How do the V9 Gen2 and V9 differ? Good question.

Both are plastic fantastic but feel hardy and comfortable in use, both offer 900 degrees of wheel rotation, both have an 11-inch rubber rim and both are grey with a ring of blue metallic.

Both also feature the usual array of Xbox-inspired buttons and a lengthy plastic R and L flappy paddle behind the wheel for gear changes. Not four paddles as on the V99 and V10.

Though largely similar in design, you may have noticed the V9 Gen2 directional-pad is now grey and the three R and three L buttons sit in a straight line as opposed to a gentle curve.

The Prog, Share, Options and Mode buttons have also been changed from a vertical arrangement below the round insert with six bolts to a horizontal arrangement in a rectangular centre. I would assume the RGB feature makes adding a custom wheel more difficult or perhaps impossible.

Both the V9 Gen2 and V9 also work with multiple gaming platforms. Specifically, PC, PS4, Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One. But not PS5. As with the V99 and V10, officially, you need the separate N5 accessory.

Both also feature a slider button for switching between 270 and 900 degrees of rotation. This is useful if you often jump between games with fast steering such as F1 2024 to slow steering such as SnowRunner.

Illuminating

Unique to the V9 Gen2 are RGB lights, which PXN describes as ‘dazzling and gorgeous’. While I would not use those exact words, they do add visual interest and can indicate your current brake or throttle force.

Hardly practical for real-time use, but it does show whether an input has been recognised.

Then there is in-built vibration. Think of it as akin to TrueForce used in the Logitech G923. While not as useful as true force-feedback, it can convey the feeling of uneven surfaces and collisions.

Another feature from the older V9 are the two plastic clamps that slot into the base. The maximum clearance is 60mm or 2.36 inches with the four underside suction cups fitted. Any more than that and the clamp heads pop off.

Said clamps are much taller and less discrete than what you get with the V9 and V10. This can be an issue on lower and thicker desks or for taller folk.

As for the wheelbase, there are five rear connections – same as the V9. However, the 3.5mm headset port is gone, the pedals also use a Type-C connection instead of ethernet and the USB power cable is now braided and detachable as opposed to fixed.

Setup is easy as every connection is labelled. Just remember to attach a controller – either via the included Type-C or Micro USB cables – for full steering wheel functionality when playing on console.

As for sim rig or stand mounting, you will, once again, have to go the custom route as there are no standard screw holes in the wheelbase. Not that someone with a fancy sim rig is the target market.

What about console compatability?

While I cannot test on PS4 or PS5, I fired up my Xbox Series X to see if it is as plug-and-play as PXN claims.

As it turns out, setup is mostly seamless. Simply connect your controller to the steering wheel and wheelbase to the console and away you go. Though using an Xbox One controller with a Type-A cable causes an issue as the wheel proves unresponsive.

Apart from some unresponsive button moments, perhaps the fault of Forza Horizon 5 and Grid Legends, the V9 Gen2 is mostly great. Specific driving impressions in just a second.

That said, there was a weird instance where the steering seemed stuck and the directional pad seemed to have a life of its own during a Forza Horizon 5 session. Fortunately, unplugging and replugging resolves the issue.

PXN V9 Gen2 advanced setup

So how good is the PXN V9 Gen2 in a variety of driving games despite the lack of force-feedback? Let us find out, but a quick word about useage. DINPUT is the default mode and works more often than not.

As such, this should be your first port of call for most PC driving games. Just know that you will likely have to configure most, if not all, functions for every game. Start by using the PXN configurations within the PXN Wheel app.

Failing that, you can try XINPUT – the equivalent to a controller. Hold the Mode button for three seconds until the light turns from red to purple. You can swap back using the same method.

Also ensure the game control method is set to ‘steering wheel’ and not ‘controller’, run any game-specific control configuration wizard and select 900 degrees of rotation unless playing something specific.

Be wary, too, of the wheel sensitivity setting. To increase or decrease, hold the Prog button until you see the red LED flash quickly. This indicates you can now press up for high, left for medium or down for low on the grey directional pad.

If steering feels twitchy, try the two weaker settings. If things feel lethargic, use medium or high. You can also consider reducing the rotation total or slide the button over to 270 degrees.

PXN V9 Gen2 driving impressions

Playing a variety of racing games on PC, I notice the PXN V9 Gen2 provides little communication between your hands and the digital surface you are driving on. Which makes sense as there is no strong motor like in the V10 and V99.

With that said, depending on the game, you can tell between smooth tarmac and lumpy gravel and bumps through vibration.

In faster games, the lack of force feedback means I doubt you will be setting world record times. You can, however, remain competitive against the AI even though the brake is a bit on-and-off unless delicate.

In EA Sports WRC, it is possible to rotate the car using braking and acceleration, while the steering feels accurate and responsive. It is the same with Dirt Rally 2.0, especially with the manual shifter giving more gear control.

Grid Legends on Xbox Series X, meanwhile, particularly suits the V9 Gen2. Arcade-ish thrills let you chuck cars around with little consequence. Though the V9 Gen2 is more than up for the job of brushing apexes.

Forza Horizon 5 is similarly plug-and-play on Xbox. Again, the brake pedal can cause instant lock-up if uncareful. Fortunately, in-game settings can be used to ease the issue.

Slower games such as Euro Truck Simulator 2 feel at home on the V9 Gen2. As does slow-and-steady SnowRunner. Man-handling the steering up tricky inclines while using AWD and Diff-Lock really does bring the latter to life.

Even in F1 2024 I am able to maintain a reasonable pace – wet conditions and all – though it takes more effort than when using the V99 and V10.

Any negatives?

The first negative of the V9 Gen2 is some backward and forward flex if you man-handle the wheel rim. Luckily it is not felt during rotation so it is more of a longevity concern than a functionality one.

Flex can also be seen in the plastic clamps. You really do not want to overdo tightening though there is no need as the five suction cups aid grip and there is no motor torque to contend with.

Points are also lost for the pedals, which can be fully depressed with a pinky finger. There is no noticeable differentiation, which is fine for the accelerator and clutch but less so for the brake.

For anyone craving muscle memory precision and sturdiness, the V9 Gen2 pedals are not the one. Though the hall magnetic sensors mean you can be precise with practice if you are light-footed.

The shifter, meanwhile, is fit for purpose. Though – like some real life gearboxes – it has a wallowy softness to it and the distance between gears is more town car than sports car. Overall, I appreciate the extra immersion in games where it can be used such as Assetto Corsa and Dirt Rally 2.0.

What about for night owl gamers? Well, it is a supremely quiet wheel. The clicking from the paddles is most noticeable though there is probably a way to de-click those or simply reassign their function elsewhere.

Most annoying of all are moments where you jump out of a game while driving. As if a click has registered outside the operating area. It happens way too often in EA Sports WRC.

As with the V99, I also saw blue screen of death (BSOD) misery when exiting some games in Steam, which is not ideal. PXN should rule out whether it is to blame, especially as my Xbox Series X also crashed a few times.

Should I buy, then?

For a casual or younger gamer at a competitive price, the V9 Gen2 is worth considering. Having three pedals and a proper shifter really immerses you into driving though it depends on the game developer whether full functionality can be used.

There really is little you can throw at the budget PXN that it cannot handle – as my video shows. I admit, it is easier to drive fast with force-feedback. Yet with practice, the V9 Gen2 can hold its own and is a more comprehensive and better value package than its entry-level rivals.

Do not get me wrong, the Logitech G920, G29 and G923 or Thrustmaster T248, T128 or the Ferrari edition make a strong case. But I would not say they make driving games more fun nor is the V9 Gen2 especially inferior in practice.

In summary, the V9 Gen2 builds on the original V9 sufficiently and is fun to use despite a few issues, regressions and mostly pointless lighting.