I feel that I am pretty objective about both of these cars. Ultimately, in my opinion, people need to get off the GTI cool-aid. I believe it is a good FWD compact--but it simply is not that much better than the ST. I have test driven an ST (my wife laughs at my occasional "test drive"), and I did not find the suspension overly stiff (they never mentioned this is any other review). I also found the interior materials to be good for its class. Objectively (even with the GTI having a bit more HP than US version will have), the numbers are pretty much equal. They may be exactly equal if the HP on the Golf is a bit lower. I would suspect slalom times, if they were able to be done, would also be extremely close. I am sorry, I have seen several generations of GTI (obviously not this one), and I find the interior tasteful with good quality materials, but it is NOT luxury. I find authors like to mention this all the time, echoing the previous one. If the GTI's is better than the ST's, it is only minor. I find the Ford's to be busier ,and the Golf's more elegant in its simplicity. I also find the Golf's to be completely uninspired. They have not changed much over the years. I agree, the Golf is more grown up, though not everyone may want that. It may be a degree better--it certainly is not THAT much better. I think the GTI is a good car for what it is, it probably is the best in its class, but I find the reviews to be a bit exaggerated. In my opinion, the scoring clearly showed bias.