The Escape is a compact crossover SUV introduced in 2000 and priced below Ford's Explorer. A hybrid version of the Escape was released in 2004, making it the first hybrid SUV. The Escape is the only SUV to make this list, with about 20,000 purchased during the Cash for Clunkers program. Interesting factoid: Theft, injury and collision losses reported to insurance companies are among the lowest in its class.