From the outset, there's not nearly as much of a price gap between the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SEL four-door and the Volkswagen Golf GTI four-door as one might expect. The TSI SEL starts at $26,995, which is a $2,000 premium over the Golf GTI S' entry-level MSRP of $24,995.

What does the Golf TSI SEL bring to the table to justify its premium position over the more powerful Golf GTI S? Essentially the full might of the Golf's options sheet, included as standard: a six-speed automatic transmission, a touchscreen navigation system, Fender audio, heated front sport seats with imitation leatherette upholstery and power adjustments, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, keyless entry, a panoramic sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity, power windows and door locks, automatic headlights and rain-sensitive windshield wipers, fog lights, dual automatic climate control, and a cooled glovebox. The version I drove also came with the Lighting package (HID headlights and LED running lights), which boosted the total MSRP to $27,990.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI comes in three trim levels - S, SE, and Autobahn - with the S model including many of the above features, with a few notable exceptions. You won't get leatherette seating surfaces, rain-sensitive wipers, an auto gearbox, a sunroof, Fender audio, a navigation system, or dual climate control with the GTI S right out of the box like you would with the SEL. If this gear is important to you, expect to open up your wallet, as moving up to the Golf GTI SE that I drove bumps the hatchback's price by $3,000 (MSRP $27,995) in order to add rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, Fender audio, a rearview camera, a push-button starter, and genuine leather seats (not available with the TSI SEL). The top-tier Golf GTI Autobahn introduces navigation, more power adjustments for the driver's seat, and dual automatic climate control for an MSRP of $29,595.

Winner: For those who are willing to pay more for features than pure performance, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf TSI SEL is the clear winner. If you want a version of the GTI that's nearly as well-equipped you're looking at paying a not insubstantial additional sum for the GTI Autobahn trim plus extra charges for adding safety equipment like forward collision warning or the same Lighting package that's available with the SEL.