To be honest, having been so pleased with my Mk5 GTI for so long, nothing else entered the equation. I wasn't even planning on swapping until recently when I started reading up on the Golf Mk7 generally, and of course the new GTI after that got announced. The rest of the bunch are a mixed bag for me in terms of over-styling, and seem to do one or two things well, mainly oriented around performance (which is understandable!)
With the GTI range generally, I love the clean lines, understated looks, and uncluttered interior. It just does everything you want of a car, which makes it a fantastic all-rounder. It's comfy, roomy, effortless to drive slow or fast, and brings a smile to my face every time I look at it and drive it. My heart made the decision before with the Mk5, and my heart made it again with the Mk7