This model gets my toast nice and golden brown. I've yet to tackle bagels or any other advanced settings, but it makes great-tasting toast. That's what I mainly need from it. There are enough settings on the dial to handle the kinds of breads we use. So far the only drawback is the district and fairly powerful hot plastic smell generated when the machine is in operation. It's not a deal-breaker for me, but it would be amazing if Cuisinart could use a different plastic formula that eliminates that problem on future models. It's just something for people to be aware of, especially if someone in your family is sensitive to smells. Overall, however, this is a solid little economical toaster that I'm happy to have in my home. It does its job well, and I appreciate having a detailed manual included so I can get the most out of it.