All manufacturers make entry level stuff ( bikes )... compromise on groupsets, wheelsets, frames, stems, seatposts, to stay under a ceratin price point ...
Since we all love Trek, ex : Treks fx line ... on one end of the spectum, you have a 2K carbon ( what I call a : ) flatbar road bike ( 7.7 )... on the the other is a bike (7.1) thats one step above wall mart grade. ( I almost typed quality.)