TG’s Top 10 Steering Wheels
Everybody loves a good-looking car, but few consider what it looks like on the inside. Yes, a Lamborghini Aventador is a good-looking car, but if the interior resembles that of a Prius, it can be rather underwhelming to drive. At least if you enjoy a pretty view from the driver’s seat, the whole experience is one which is a lot more enjoyable. Here are our Top 10 favourite steering wheels…
10: Pagani Huayra
Pagani is a brand which is known for being wild in all aspects of the word. For example, its noise is intoxicating, and they look strikingly unique but have built a reputation by building rather over-the-top interiors. So as you can imagine, the steering wheel is rather special. With an artistic feel to the embroidery and flashing chrome accents, surrounded by the unusual use of colours, the Huayra has a steering wheel designed for the extravagant. The reason for the lower placement is that the busy-factor on this wheel just proves a bit much. In fact, it’s wildly busy…
9: BMW M4 CSL
BMW is a near-perfectly balanced brand, with stunning cars and functional interiors. It was then no surprise to see an exciting steering wheel on exciting cars like the M4 CSL. The balance of carbon to Alcantara with a variety of buttons and switches makes for an impressive driver’s view. With experience behind a few M wheels, we can say with confidence that the sporty look of the Alcantara adds to the excitement of this wheel. The perfect visual for an M car owner.
8: 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake
Over the years, there have been many cool steering wheels and to be honest, they keep getting better. With the addition of carbon fibre as an aesthetic component, and an endless array of buttons which have found their way onto our steering wheels over the past decade, it is refreshing to see what a good-looking steering wheel was like back in the day. The Shelby GT500 Super Snake has a wheel which deserves a place on this list as it portrays old-school classy. Its wood diameter and drilled steel arms make the car seem elegant yet sporty, almost like you are driving an old war plane like a Spitfire. Of course, there aren’t any buttons to mess around with, but the stripped-back design with a wooden finish made for one special steering wheel.
7: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA
Alfa is a more unique brand that builds incredible cars to drive, and most of their cars look spectacular. One of my favourites is the Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA. A performance sedan that brings a more flamboyant approach to cars like the M3 and C63s, so to no surprise the inside is just as spectacular. The steering wheel in this special sedan will have all of your passengers staring at your hands throughout the journey as the wheel is outright pretty, to say the least. With Alcantara inlaid into the red stitched leather wheel and a large red start-stop button in the middle makes quite the statement.
6: Audi R8 V10
There is something so pleasant about the Audi R8 steering wheel. It isn’t the most extravagant wheel around, but the shape of the wheel is so pleasant to use. We like the red start-stop button and how the textured leather feels in the hands. You really get a sense of the R8’s character just with the tiller. Despite the start-stop button, it’s rather understated yet visually appealing and is quite easy to use from a connectivity point of view that is. The Alcantara is used to great effect in the R8 and makes for a stunning driver’s view. It easily wiggled its way into our Top 10…
5: Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe
This car has a special place in the heart of this writer as a first-review car… And the steering wheel is equally special with its aggressive feel, carbon fibre covering and pleasant-to-use Alcantara inserts, right where man meets machine. Some call it abstractly sporty, we just say that all the buttons and dials are easy to use. It’s an overall well-put-together steering wheel that works exactly as it should. Maybe a steering wheel review section is in order?
4: McLaren Senna
McLaren is a typically British brand, where mostly things tend to be rather classy but now and again something of a minimalistic nature emerges unlike afternoon tea… The McLaren interior is no exception to that stigma, as you’ll find a rather basic yet incredibly appealing place to sit. The McLaren Senna, although being the most refined of the McLarens, has a simple yet artistically designed wheel which is perfect for the minimalist purist out there. There are no buttons to play around with only a stunning carbon fibre wheel and some paddle shifters behind it. As you can probably tell by now, we’re fans of everything carbon fibre and this wheel tickles that fancy. It has a blend of carbon and leather which is pleasing on the eyes, particularly for those with a simple, yet sporty preference.
3. 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300SL
To no surprise, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL has wiggled its way onto this list. This classy German icon is a collector’s dream and leads the way in old-school German luxury. However, the steering wheel on this classic is a special one. Looks wise, it’s rather basic and dainty and provides a statured image behind the wheel. However, this wheel has a neat feature which aren’t readily available on mainstream cars or classics for that matter… A tilting steering wheel that can be angled down at 90 degrees to allow the driver to enter the vehicle with ease. Such a nice touch to an already beautiful car.
2. 1992 Honda NSX Type R
The Honda NSX is up there on many a bucket list. It’s the Japanese answer to the supercar titans to the west. Sure, it’s not the most luxurious car, but do you want massaged back or a smiling face? It’s steering wheel won’t read your core temperature for optimal levels of climate control but it does reflect the car’s somewhat wild but functional personality. Its shape is similar to many race cars of the era and its retro style makes it just as cool. Then again, there’s a lot of beauty to be found in tame simplicity…
1. Ferrari LaFerrari
As you probably expected there needs to be something special at the top of this list. The LaFerrari is an exceptional car and is one of the best cars that the prancing horse has to offer. So to no surprise, there’s a fantastically special steering wheel which is used to pilot such a car. Immediately you’ll notice that the steering wheel isn’t round but rather square. Taking a page from Formula One, there’s a rather unusual use of buttons, all within a thumb’s reach. With a dial on the right-hand side and your indicators embeded within the wheel itself, it isn’t the most user-friendly, and that’s the point. Our favourite touch is the shift light on the top of the steering wheel, which adds to the excitement of driving such a car. The LaFerrari steering wheel is the perfect example of impractical yet iconic perfection.
