It ain't that bad of a price to be honest (and I know you're not necessarily saying this, but it's what the na population is saying) If you take a brand new hatch sti and the golf r they are both making similar amounts of power and are both in the same price range. Both awd.
At that point you're paying for what you like better. jdm or euro? Fancy red iconic badge plastered all over the car or a more simple approach?
For me, I like the design of the golf better than the hatch sti and would be totally justified in spending that money on the golf given the cars in that market range.