Chris Harris seems to like the MK7 GTI. The US-spec model will have 210 horsepower and about 250 torques, and we're getting the performance package with 10 extra horsepower, bigger brakes, and a limited-slip differential.
Yeah, I read a bunch of first-drives and it sounds like folks are impressed. My test drive of the 2013 model, I could tell it wasn't as quiet (or smooth) a drive as the BMW 328i - but then again, there's a price difference of about 8-10k USD. But if I decide I want to go the cheaper route, looks like I need to wait for better options.