The 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a rolling reinvention of one of the strongest luxury brands. The sleek and sporty SUV raises as many questions as it answers about Land Rover’s future, though.

The Evoque has won fans and awards, but it sacrifices some of Land Rover’s traditional strengths.

Prices for the Evoque start at $43,145 for a four-door model. The striking, but less accommodating two-door starts at $44,145. The coupe accounts for 10 percent to 20 percent of U.S. Evoque sales.

Land Rover developed the small Evoque to meet tough new fuel economy and emissions standards around the world and to attract new buyers. So far, so good: 85 percent of its buyers have never owned a Land Rover before.

All Evoques feature all-wheel drive, a turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

I tested an option-laden two-door Evoque that stickered at $58,170 — as much or more than comparably equipped competitors. All prices exclude destination charges.

The pricey SUV is considerably smaller than competitors like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti EX 35 and Lexus RX 350.

At 171.5 inches long, it’s about midway between typical small luxury SUVs like the RDX, X3 and Q5 and the very small Mini Cooper S Countryman.

The Evoque provides roomy and comfortable accommodations for the driver and front passenger. Rear access and accommodations are cramped.

The Evoque coupe I tested had an optional two-person rear seat. A three-person bench is also available. Four-door models offer only the bench — and a bit more headroom.

Cargo space is good. The coupe offers 43 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 with them folded. In the four-door, cargo capacity with the seats folded reaches 51 cubic feet.

The interior of the Evoque I tested was trimmed in high-quality, modern materials. It eschewed Land Rover’s traditional wood in favor of soft surfaces, light colors, strategically placed brightwork and an optional ebony headliner.

The Evoque is very quiet.

The standard fixed-glass roof allows plenty of light in, but I’d rather have a smaller sunroof that opened. The gauges are big and clear, and an 8-inch touch screen provides easy control of many functions, including iPods and navigation. The voice-recognition system works well.

The Evoque’s low, wide shape is a break with Land Rover’s usual upright style. The thin grille and headlights wrap all the way across the front and lead the eye to pronounced front wheel arches.

A rising beltline and a roof that tapers down from front to rear form a dynamic profile.

The low roof and high beltline leave little room for windows, a far cry from the outsized sheets of glass that provide a panoramic view from Land Rover’s traditional tall, boxy SUVs.

The four-door has slightly larger windows, but I was not able to test that model.

Driving the Evoque is an experience unlike any Land Rover — any SUV, really — before it. It responds more like a sports car than an SUV.

The electric power steering is fast and precise. It’s perfect for zooming down twisty country roads, with none of the steering-wheel play Land Rover builds into off-road oriented vehicles.

The suspension grips to the road in quick maneuvers and cushions the blows of rough pavement.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected engine is fast, smooth and fuel efficient. Mated to a quick and smooth six-speed automatic transmission, it gives the Evoque plenty of acceleration around town and at highway speeds.

The Evoque’s EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway and 22 combined match the Q5 and beat the RDX, X3, SRX, EX and RX 350. It trails the smaller, lighter and less-powerful Countryman.

The Evoque’s all-wheel drive system uses brakes and stability control to manage traction. It lacks the low range for serious off-roading that’s a common feature in other Land Rovers, and a necessity in truly rugged country.

The pleasure of driving the Evoque is greatly reduced by diabolically bad visibility. The rear window is high and narrow. Even narrower side windows and a broad D-pillar create large blind spots.

On top of that, the sloping windshield and wide A-pillars limit the driver’s forward view for cornering.

The Evoque should have blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts for driving and backing out of parking spots. A spotter in a trail vehicle to warn the driver about oncoming traffic wouldn’t hurt, either.

That’s a far cry from the Land Rovers that built the brand’s reputation by providing a 360-degree view as they traversed the world’s most picturesque and challenging wilderness areas.

The Evoque is striking, fast, fun and efficient. If Land Rover can combine those new virtues with its traditional strengths, the brand’s future is assured.

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2012 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER EVOQUE:

—All-wheel drive four- or five-passenger two- or four-door luxury SUV

—Base price: $43,145

—Price as tested: $58,170 (excluding destination charge)

—Safety equipment: Antilock brakes; stability control; roll stability control; brake force distribution; brake assist; cornering brake control; hill descent control; hill start assist; trailer stability assist; front seat side air bags; curtain air bags; driver’s knee air bag; front seatbelt pretensioners

Specifications as tested:

—Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection DOHC variable-timing 16-valve four-cylinder

—Power: 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm; 250 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm

—Transmission: Six-speed automatic

—EPA fuel economy rating: 18 mpg city/28 highway/22 combined

Dimensions:

—Wheelbase: 104.8 inches

—Length: 171.5 inches

—Width: 77.4 inches

—Height: 63.2 inches

—Curb weight: 3,902 pounds

—Where assembled: Halewood, England

—Rating: Three out of four stars

—Reasons to buy: Handling, looks, fuel economy

—Shortcomings: Poor visibility, price