Toto Ultramax II Vs. Toto Drake II – What to Know Upfront

Last Updated on September 30, 2023 by toilethaven

Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II are 2 of the Best Toto toilets. But which is a better toilet model between the Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II?

The main difference between Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II is that Toto Ultramax II is a one-piece toilet, while Toto Drake II is a two-piece toilet. Toto Ultramax II is, therefore, sleeker and more compact than the Drake II.

Toto Ultramax II is the improved model of the Toto Ultramax. The difference between Toto Ultramax II and Toto Ultramax is that Toto Ultramax uses 1.6 gallons of water per flush, while Toto Ultramax II uses 1.28 gallons per flush.

Toto Drake II, on the other hand, is the improved model of Toto Drake. The difference between Toto Drake and Toto Drake II is that Toto Drake has a water consumption of 1.6 gallons per flush, while Toto Drake II has a consumption of 1.28 gallons per flush.

Both Toto Drake II and Toto Ultramax II utilize Toto’s E-Max flushing system, while Toto Ultramax and Toto Drake use the G-Max flushing system.

The difference between the E-Max flushing system and the G-Max flushing toilets is the amount of water a toilet uses per flush. G-Max flushing system toilets use 1.6 gallons of water per flush while E-Max flushing system toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush.

Toto Ultramax II Vs. Toto Drake II Comparison Table

Toto Ultramax II Review

Toto Ultramax II is one of the best toilets not only among other Toto toilets but in the entire toilet industry. Apart from being so sleek, it is also a very powerful flushing toilet.

People looking for a powerful flushing one-piece toilet often find themselves torn between the Toto Ultramax II and the American Standard Champion 4.

Both the Ultramax II and Champion 4 are great toilets, but the Champion 4 has a consumption of 1.6 gallons per flush compared to Ultramax II’s 1.28 gallons per flush. The Champion 4 can not be sold in some states like California and Texas.

One thing that makes Toto Ultramax II appeal to more toilet buyers is its low water consumption but still powerful flush. It is also very effective in bowl rinsing compared to other toilets.

Toto Drake II Review

If I were looking for a strong, flushing two-piece toilet, then it would definitely have to be the Toto Drake II. Toto Drake toilets are actually well known for their high flushing power thanks to the G-Max flushing system.

Toto Drake II was created by Toto as an improvement to the original Toto Drake. It flushes as well as the Toto Drake while at the same time consuming less water. The Drake II is also way more attractive than the Toto Drake.

There are 2 toilet models that compete with the Toto Drake II in the two-piece toilet category out of the Toto brand. These are the Kohler Cimarron and American Standard Cadet 3 FloWise. I would still choose the Drake II out of 3 toilet models.

Toto Ultramax II Vs. Toto Drake – The Pros and Cons

Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II have so much more in common than their differences. Let us look at their features and specifications as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Flushing System

Toto toilets are classified into 2 different types of flushing systems. The first classification is based on how much water the toilet consumes per flush, and the second is on how the water is delivered from the tank to the bowl.

Since both Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II are high-efficiency toilets with a consumption of 1.28 gallons per flush, they fall under Toto’s E-Max Flushing system.

They also use Toto’s revolutionary Tornado flushing system. The tornado flush system is designed to deliver water into the bowl from the tank faster. The faster you dump water into the bowl, the more forceful it exits and, therefore, a powerful flush.

Toto Ultramax II and Drake II’s toilet bowls use 2 powerful nozzles instead of the usual rim holes. Water from the tank enters the bowl through these 2 nozzles forcefully, vortexes around the bowl, and is then flushed down with all the bowl’s content.

Apart from being a powerful flushing system, the Tornado flush system is very effective in cleaning the bowl. The whirlpool formed by the water in the bowl helps to scrub and rinse it.

Apart from their black toilet models, all the other models of the Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II are coated with Toto’s Cefiontect glaze. This makes it hard for waste to stick on the toilet, making cleaning them a breeze.

2. One-Piece vs Two-Piece Toilet

Toto Ultramax II is a one-piece toilet, while Toto Drake II is a two-piece toilet. So, between a one-piece toilet and a two-piece toilet, which one is better?

The truth of the matter is that both toilets have their advantages and disadvantages. Let us look at some of them.

The first thing is the shipping process. Once you buy a one-piece toilet (in this case, the Ultramax II), it will be delivered in one big box. Two-piece toilets are usually delivered in 2 separate boxes. There are normally no guarantees that both boxes will arrive at the same time.

One-piece toilets tend to break during shipping more often compared to two-piece toilets. This is due to their odd shape and weight. The 2 boxes used to ship two-piece toilets are lighter, easy to secure, and hence fewer breakages.

One-piece toilets look sleeker and modern, while two-piece toilets have a more traditional look. I would, therefore, say that the Toto Ultramax II is more visually appealing than the Toto Drake II. This does not, however, mean that the Drake II is ugly.

If, unfortunately, your Toto Ultramax II breaks, you would need to replace the entire toilet, which is not cheap. On the other hand, if the Toto Drake II is broken, you would only need to replace the broken piece, either the tank or the bowl.

I have written a whole article explaining the pros and cons of one-piece toilets vs. two-piece toilets. Read it here.

3. Toilet Dimensions

It is exceedingly important to note down the dimensions of a toilet and compare them with the space you have in your bathroom prior to buying it. There is nothing worse than buying an expensive thing like a toilet that you can’t install.

The most important toilet dimensions are:

• Depth
• Width
• Total height
• Toilet bowl height
• Rough-in

The dimensions of the Toto Ultramax II are:

• Depth: 28.375 inches
• Width: 16.625 inches
• Height: 28.75 inches
• Bowl height: 16.125 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

The dimensions of the Toto Drake II are:

• Depth: 28.5 inches
• Width: 17.25 inches
• Height: 30 inches
• Bowl height: 16.125 inches
• Rough-in: 12 inches

Toto Ultramax II, as is the case with most one-piece toilets, is more compact than the Toto Drake II, so if your bathroom needs that extra inch, you know what toilet to buy.

Both of them are, however, comfort-height toilets. With the addition of a toilet seat, each toilet’s seat height will be 17.25 inches, which is very comfortable to sit and stand on.

They are compliant with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Read more on the pros and cons of comfort height vs. standard height toilets here.

Another thing to note is both of these toilets have an elongated toilet bowl. Elongated toilet bowls are about 2 inches longer than round-front toilet bowls. They are more comfortable to use as they offer a bigger surface area to sit on.

4. Toilet Rough-In

The rough-in of a toilet is a very important dimension that you should measure prior to buying a toilet. It is the distance between a toilet’s rear wall and the center of its drainpipe. Sometimes, the rough-in is taken from the wall to the toilet bolts as they are at the center of the drainpipe.

Both Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II have a rough-in of 12 inches. But what happens if you have a rough-in of 10 or 14 inches in your bathroom?

Toto does not manufacture toilets with non-standard rough-ins. What they have instead is skirted toilets, which, with the help of an adapter, can be converted into either 10 or 14-inch rough-in toilets.

Some of the well-known Toto skirted toilets are the Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II. Toto Carlyle II is the skirted model of Toto Ultramax II, while the Toto Vespin II is the skirted model of Toto Drake II.

Both Toto Carlyle II and Toto Vespin II have a rough-in of 12 inches; only with the help of an adapter can they be converted into either 10 or 14-inch rough-in toilets.

If you would fancy a skirted toilet, then I would advise you to check out these 2 toilets. They have the same features as Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II save for the skirted bowls. Read more here.

Cost

The Toto Ultramax II costs slightly more than the Toto Drake II. This is also something you will notice while comparing one-piece and two-piece toilets of the same features and specifications.

From Toto’s Website, You will see a difference in price of 200 dollars between the Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II. This is not a small amount of money, and it can influence your toilet choice as there is no difference between the 2 toilets in terms of performance.

I should also add that the Toto Ultramax II comes with a soft-close toilet seat, while the Toto Drake II is sold without a seat. You will need to buy a seat separately, which will increase the quoted price of the Drake II.

After you have bought and installed the toilet, Toto Ultramax II will have fewer repairs and is much easier to maintain. One problem with two-piece toilets (in this case, Toto Drake II) is that they start leaking between the bowl and the tank.

This is caused by loose or worn-out tank bolts and/or washers or even the tank-to-bowl gasket. When this happens, you will have no option but to remove your toilet tank, replace the parts, and then install the tank back.

If you can’t perform this kind of repair on your own, it means you will need to hire a plumber. Plumbers are not very cheap.

Toto Ultramax II, being a one-piece toilet, has no tank bolts or tank-to-bowl gasket. Therefore, it will never leak there. All the other repairs will be inside the tank and are actually very easy to do on your own.

Ease of Cleaning

Toto Ultramax II is way easier to clean than Toto Drake II. This is true for all one-piece toilets, especially if they are both one-piece and skirted like the Toto Carlyle II and WOODBRIDGE One Piece Toilet.

There is a seamless connection between the Toto Ultramax II’s tank and bowl, unlike in the Toto Drake II, which has a tiny gap. Dirt will, therefore, have nowhere to hide in the Ultramax II, but the same cannot be said of the Drake II.

If you want to spend as little time as possible cleaning your toilet, then the Toto Ultramax II is the toilet to go for.

Ease of Installation

Installing a one-piece toilet like the Toto Ultramax II is quicker than a two-piece toilet like the Drake II. This is because there is only one piece to install, unlike The Drake II, where you will first need to install the bowl and then install the tank.

The downside to installing the Toto Ultramax II is that it is quite heavy, and you may need an extra pair of hands to help you with the lifting. Attempting to do it on your own might be risky since you can easily drop and break it.

The advantage of installing the Toto Drake II, as is the case with all two-piece toilets, is that one person can comfortably install them. The tank and the bowl, being different pieces, are lighter to lift than the whole Toto Ultramax II.

Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II Vs. Other Toilet Models

So, what are the other toilet models that would be a decent replacement for either Toto Ultramax II or Toto Drake II? 

These are the toilet models that I feel would be a good alternative to Toto Ultramax II. The 3 of them are also one-piece toilets:

• American Standard Champion 4
• Woodbridge T-0001
• Kohler Santa Rosa

American Standard Champion 4 is one of the most popular toilets not only amongst American Standard toilets but also across the board. It has a 4-inch wide flush valve, which dumps water into the bowl faster, resulting in a forceful and powerful flush.

It costs slightly less than the Toto Ultramax II but consumes more water per flush. The 1.6 gallons per flush rating means it does not comply with the requirements of bodies like WaterSense and CalGreen and, as such, cannot be sold in places like California and Texas.

Other than that, the Champion 4 is a great toilet. Check it out here.

Woodbridge One Piece Toilet is a one-piece, dual flush elongated and full-skirted toilet. It is a beautifully designed toilet that also flushes amazingly well.

Kohler Santa Rosa is a one-piece single flush and elongated toilet with a comfortable height. It uses Kohler’s AquaPiston flushing technology, which is quite strong. Check its reviews and amongst other Kohler toilets in this post.

One alternative I would think to the Toto Drake II is the Kohler Cimarron. Kohler Cimarron is one of the most popular toilets from Kohler, well known for its flushing power. Read more on Kohler Cimarron here.

Wrap Up

Both Toto Ultramax II and Toto Drake II are excellent toilet options. Personally, I would go with the Toto Ultramax II as I am big on aesthetics and, therefore, really like its sleek appearance. I would be happy to pay the extra money to end with it.

For people who only care about performance and not so much about appearance, then the Drake II will suffice. Whichever toilet you decide to buy, you will be happy. You can hardly go wrong with a Toto toilet.