If you really need the extra ground clearance and bigger trunk, then go for the Forester. If you are to going to use the vehicle for most city drives with some out of town trips on mostly paved roads, go for the Golf GTS. The Golf GTS has a more premium interior and also offers decent cargo space. Even though the Forester is one of the best handling CUVs, the Golf GTS drives more like a car and offers better performance (quicker and faster) plus thriftier on fuel. The Forester offers a boxy look while the Golf GTS offers better looks. On the matter of maintenance, Subaru follows a 6-month/10k PMS cycle while VW follows a 12-month/15k PMS cycle. The current Forester platform is about to be replaced with a new one next year.