Source: Ken Bensinger, Los Angeles Times ( Free Registration )

David Sikorski went to a Hertz in Austin, Texas, last month to rent a car for a business trip to Dallas. He’d booked a fuel-efficient mid-size sedan, hoping to keep expenses down on the 400-mile round trip.

What he got was a 16-mile-per-gallon Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle. “I walked right back in and asked for something smaller,” said the Austin computer data specialist, who eventually was given a Hyundai. “They claimed it was an upgrade, but I sure don’t want an upgrade if it means driving an SUV.”

Read Full Article: Demand for compacts stresses rental car companies