Mitsubishi’s upcoming midsize partner to the Outlander SUV has been spotted conducting testing in the USA, with a pair of its intended competitors being benchmarked alongside it.

Spied in convoy with a Kia Sportage and Ford Escape (the US-market name for the Kuga), Mitsubishi’s new crossover is expected to be sized somewhere between the current-generation ASX and the seven-seat Outlander, putting it at the lower end of the midsize SUV category where it’ll duke it out with the CX-5, RAV4 and Tucson – in addition to the aforementioned Sportage and Escape.

Mitsubishi -XR-spy -pic -front -side

What it won’t be, however, is the next-generation Mitsubishi ASX. In line with Mitsubishi’s planned expansion of its SUV lineup, that model is set to be downsized to make room between it and the Outlander for the XR crossover shown here.

Mitsubishi -XR-spy -pic -front
Mitsubishi -XR-spy -pic -rear -side

That means a 2.0 litre petrol, 2.4 litre petrol and 2.2 litre turbo diesel will be likely starters for the production version of the XR, along with a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid.