Ford Focus Active; CHR; Vitara; Civic -used vs approved used

[NBUK]

I am new to UK. I am planning to get a 3-4 years old used automatic for 15K-20K. Being not sure of the road conditions (portholes, countryside roads etc), I consider Ford Focus Active, Toyota CHR, Suzuki Vitara due to their greater ground clearance. Is my concern valid? It not, I can expand my choice to include normal Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and many others.

I am inclined towards approved used cars but they might not be available, especially Ford Focus Active. Some Ford dealers have many used Ford cars but not all of them are approved by Ford despite being in very good conditions according to sellers. One silly question is that why those cars are not approved by Ford.

If I buy used car and appoint an independent pre purchase inspector (RAC, AA, or ClickMechanic), how would this compared to buy an approved used car?

[ZX10R NIN]

A normal Focus will be fine for UK roads.

[Simon_GH]

The Active has a very compliant ride over uneven roads in my opinion based on one test drive but I was too tempted by the sportier ST Line so went that way instead. As ZX10 says, a normal Focus will be fine unless you really like the Active.

[Back2theFuji]

ZX10R NIN said:

A normal Focus will be fine for UK roads.

You should see the state of some of the roads round my way at the minute, a tractor wouldn't be inappropriate

[Simon_GH]

Active has longer travel so may well fit the bill in that case.

[Whataguy]

Normal car is fine, just go for the small wheel option.

Some of the Toyotas are coming with 18" wheels now as standard, what you want is 16".

I have a golf on 16's and drive on some of the worst roads in the UK.

The sidewalls may look comedy big, but it's been fine.

I used to have a Volvo V40, the 'off road' X version with a one inch raised ride height. That was on 17's and my Golf is better on 16's. Tyres are cheaper as well. Both running Michelin Cross Climates.