Most professional reviews aren't professional.
Toyota tends to move along at their own pace.
Funny that there are many vehicles that seemed to go completely backward with MPG.... using RPMs to make powertrain tolerably peppy doesn't work!
I'll take a CH-R with the 2.5/8speed from the Camry. Don't care for unpowered engines that many automakers throw in vehicles. The 2.5 with a 6 speed manual would be a jewel. Too bad it only has a 2.0/cvt. So many great cars out there with horribly ineffective powertrains. Many automakers don't even try! Is there a hybrid? Rav4/Venza hybrid is excellent. Rav4 actually improves with the hybrid(and not even talking about the prime). Venza is hybrid only. CH-R could be saved with some thinking hybrid and/or turbo. 1.2T FWD, without crazy power but tons of torque, and a well geared auto or manual would do wonders for the CH-R as a commuter. For example, those 1.3-1.6T products from GM, VW, Nissan, Hyundai... all were pretty good for MPG and better power than many NA 1.8-2.5L competitors.
Most new small turbo'd engines that I've driven enjoy cruising at high speed. This isn't 1986 anymore.
They tend to be geared perfectly and have tons of low end torque. Only penalty is a blip of lag.
Without strain, this 1.4T could run all day at 100mph if the highways allowed it, and still beat the CH-R's MPG and acceleration, along with various similar vehicles from other automakers equipped with overstrained boring powertrains.
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