The Ford Escape Hybrid is a gasoline-electric hybrid powered version of the Ford Escape SUV developed by the Ford Motor Company, first launched in the U.S. in 2004, to offset the pollution resulting from non-hybrid SUV use. Built in Kansas City, Missouri, it was the first hybrid SUV to hit the market. The SUV got its first update (by not counting its 2008 redesign) in 2009 by changing the engine from 2.3L to 2.5L and badges.