I've only had it a few months. It handles well. The weight is heavy duty for the size of it, so I feel it will last . The only suggestion I have is for the first speed to be less powerful, so more of the dry ingredients stays in the bowl, otherwise I'm glad to have purchased it.
We've been happy with other Cuisinart products so we replaced an "old faithful" GE with a 5 speed Cuisinart mixer. After 50+ years in the kitchen, this is our favorite hand held mixer ever. We initially were shopping for a 9 speed, but have found 5 speeds are plenty. It is powerful, a comfortable weight, and easy to use. The swivel cord is a nice feature and the simple design of the beaters is excellent (love how they attach and eject; very secure). Yes, there are much less expensive options, but this mixer has been worth the premium price.