10k each way all year round.
She’s currently on a 10-year-old Specialized Sirrus disc with pannier rack, but it’s slowly dying – and she wants a shiny new replacement.
Its on 28mm tyres, but there is one particularly miserable section where the tarmac path is being undermined with roots (North Inch between river and golf course if you know it) which means she’s asking for some more bounce.
It needs flat bars and mounts for rack and guards, and with up to 35mm tyres. What you got?

Gazelle Orange C8 if the budget will allow it.

What’s the budget? New Cotic Roadrat or Genesis of the correct flavour.

Assuming a similar price point to the Specialized, how about the Kalkhoff Durban.

– Nexus 7 speed hub gear and Hebie chainglider should mean minimal maintenance and long lifespan for the transmission.

– Schwalbe 700×42 tyres

– Dynamo hub, lights include standlight function

– Mudguards, rack and stand

It’s got V brakes rather than discs, but given the likely style of riding on a flat barred commuter with panniers (and ordinary clothes?), I don’t think that should be a dealbreaker.

That Kalkhof looks great – almost perfect, just need to check the weight, as she does fancy herself as a bit of a racing snake 😕

How tall is your Mrs? I built up a surly disc trucker for my Mrs. its 26″ flavour to negate toe overlap. It has full guards and a alfine 8. Its a lovely bike. Super smooth and reliable.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hybrid-team-bike

~£570 with British Cycling discount, listed as mens bike, but Boardman don’t list a carbon forked womens version. A work colleague has one, nice looking bike.

Pinnacle do a flat barred version of the ever-popular Arkose, it’s called a Lithium I think..

On the comfortable side of fast:

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-lithium-5-2018-women-s-hybrid-bike-EV275580?esvt=52836-GOUKE4568756&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1303420-1&esvcrea=212622130484&esvplace=&esvd=m&esvtg=aud-495532802872%3Apla-303805805993&esvo=EV275580-M-BLK&esvaid=50080&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MDPBRAFEiwAppdF9N_XrrGAzclndE09ZtRq843lCwZFqh1AVhOKS6hwXSBLR0hi2ovXmBoCSXsQAvD_BwE

How about a shiny new Specialized Sirrus Disc? 🙂

As above,does she like the Sirrus?
You could always chuck a big front tyre and a Thudbuster on it for a bit more comfort.

How about a shiny new Specialized Sirrus Disc?

That did cross my mind – maybe add a dynamo front wheel and lights.