Originally Posted by
timo888
The specific problem I'm trying to solve is finding a folding bike whose feel my wife likes (she really likes the feel of the Brompton's M-style but she does not care for the Swift or the Birdy BD-1); it has to be a bike which is capable of riding well not only on pavement but also on gritty/sandy/gravelly/grassy paths (no roots and rocks, just light off-roading on surfaces that can be rather soft) and ideally one which also folds fairly small, since it will be sharing the trunk of the car with a Birdy or a Swift. I will probably be selling the one or the other of those to buy this new bike for her.
In that case, the Brompton is the wrong bike. Although they fold bigger, so that could be an issue with the trunk, you should look at other folders like Dahon, Tern, etc. They're usually cheaper too. One with a Nexus 3/7/8 instead of a derailleur would make it even easier to use.
If the rides are not long too long and on mostly flat areas, what about the Dahon Curve with 305 16" wheels, 2" tires, and a smaller fold than those with 20" wheels?
https://dahon.com/bikes/curve-i3-2/