Toto Drake II vs Ultramax II: Which Is Right for You?

Written by

Paulk Webb

FACT-CHECKED BY

Freddie J. Hagopian

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toto drake ii vs ultramax ii

Toto is one of the popular toilet brands that are always in the mainstream. In this article, Toto Drake II vs Ultramax II, the leading models from the same company, will be compared.

Both of these toilets possess exceptional features that satisfy their users. Toto Drake is a one-piece toilet, while the Ultramax ii is a two-piece toilet. The former is suitable for small families who like modern toilets.

Meanwhile, the latter is for large families and commercial use, considering its low maintenance cost. You’ll gain more information that is useful for your purchasing decision if you keep reading.

Toto Drake II

Toto-Ultramax-II-review

  • Material: Vitreous china
  • Piece: Two-piece toilet
  • Water consumption: 1.28 GPF
  • Flush rating: >=800 (highly recommended)
  • Flushing technology: Tornado flushing system
  • Soft closing seat: Not included
  • Colors: Cotton white, white, ebony, and beige
  • Certificate: ADA, CEC, CalGreen, and EPA WaterSense
  • Shape: Elongated
  • Rough-in: 12 inches
  • Weight: 94 pounds
  • Ideal for: Small family
  • Maintenance cost: Medium
  • Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

When you’re in search of an eco-friendly toilet with a powerful flushing system, this two-piece toilet is a perfect choice! Even though it’s the improvised version of the original Toto Drake toilet, it remains relatively affordable.

  • Design

The looks of the Drake II toilet are impressive as it has a modern design and slim tank. But it gives you more than just aesthetics because of its elongated bowl design. It creates extra space for you to sit on so you can have a pleasant toilet experience.

Moreover, it also features Toto’s Cefiontect glaze that gives smooth and shiny effects. This coating can hinder the dirt from sticking and bacteria from forming. It’s available in beige, cotton white, ebony, and white so you can select the color that goes well with your bathroom theme.

  • Flushing system

The powerful tornado flushing system makes this toilet functional and efficient. It proves to be way ahead of the traditional flapper system and chain. Two outlets generate a dual vortex of water for a powerful flush. Because the entire toilet is glazed, one flush can get rid of the waste without the need for repetition.

  • Cleaning and maintenance

The surface of the Drake II is smooth and glossy and it’s not tolerant to dirt, stain, and unwanted particles. Hence, cleaning can be done easily. It also means that maintenance is a piece of cake so you can use it for many years.

  • Water Consumption

Since it has 1.6 GPF, it’s EDA compliant. Additionally, it even consumes 20% less water than what’s required in the Federal guidelines.

Ultramax II

toto-ultramax-vs-drake

  • Material: Vitreous china
  • Piece: One-piece toilet
  • Water consumption: 1.28 GPF
  • Flush rating: >=800 (highly recommended)
  • Flushing technology: Tornado flushing system
  • Soft closing seat: Included
  • Colors: Cotton white, white, ebony, and beige
  • Certificate: ADA, CEC, CalGreen, and WaterSense
  • Shape: Elongated
  • Rough-in: 12 inches
  • Weight: 99 pounds
  • Ideal for: Large family and commercial use
  • Maintenance cost: Low
  • Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

This toilet model is smooth and elegant. It’s ADA-compliant due to its comfort height and elongated form. More of its features will be discussed in the following part.

  • Design

This Ultramax II toilet is made from vitreous china to instill comfort for users to take advantage of. It has a comfortable height that meets even the needs of young and disabled people. Therefore, it’s recognized as ADA-compliant.

Its design also includes a SanaGloss finish to establish a smooth coating for blocking stain and bacteria build-up.

  • Flushing system

This factor is the selling strength of all the toilets. The Ultramax II toilet operates through a dual cyclone flushing system in a single flush. Just flush once and you can eliminate the waste right away.

With its 1.28 GPF, it can flush all the waste. Regardless of its might in flushing, this Toto Ultramax II remains quiet when in operation. Thus, it won’t disturb anyone.

  • Cleaning and maintenance

Two-piece toilets are much more demanding than one-piece, like this Toto Ultramax II toilet when it comes to cleaning. Based on the characteristics of the SanaGloss finish and the absence of joints, dirt and bacterial growth are not accommodated.

Therefore, it can stay clean for a long period even without frequent cleaning. Since the Toto brand is well-known, replacement parts like valve cups and fill valves are not hard to obtain if the need arises.

  • Water Consumption

Just like other Toto toilets, this Toto Ultramax II has low water consumption. That’s why it’s EPA WaterSense and this certification is entitled to rebates in some states.

In the next section, we will take a deeper look at the difference between these two models. But there is one minor note for you is to be mindful that it’s a different comparison from Toto Ultramax vs Drake as they are the previous models.

Comparison of Toto Drake II and Ultramax II

Although these two toilet models from Toto share similar features, there are still differences that you need to know.

  • Flushing system

These two toilets work with the state-of-the-art tornado flushing system and 1.28 GPF. Therefore, they become water-efficient toilets. There’s a forming of a centrifugal with two nozzle valves to efficiently remove waste efficiently.

They are modern toilets that have a rim hole-free design, which makes them superior to the others. Like other Toto toilets with a G Max flushing system and E max flushing system, drake II and Ultramax II are with Cefiontect glaze.

So, waste doesn’t stick on the toilet surface. The only difference is the black-colored toilets as they don’t have the glaze.

Toto Drake II toilet is one-piece while the Ultramax II is two-piece. Each of them has pros and cons. When delivered, the former is in one box while the latter is in two boxes. The modern and sleek appearance is common among one-piece toilets. The traditional structure refers to the two-piece toilets.

When the one-piece breaks, you’ll need to buy a new toilet. But if it’s a two-piece, you can just replace the broken part.

  • Toilet Dimensions

It’s important to look at the toilet dimension to know that it fits in your bathroom space.

Parameters Drake II Ultramax II
Depth 28.5” 28.375”
Width 17.25” 16.625”
Height 27” 28.31”
Bowl height 16.125” 16.125”
Rough-in 12” 12”

It shows that Drake II is more compact than Ultramax II. However, they’re both at a comfortable height which gives convenience for all ages. This means that it meets the standards set by ADA. Because they are elongated toilets, two inches were added to their sitting surface. This extra space ensures comfort.

  • Rough-in

Another important factor for Toto Drake II and Ultramax II is toilet rough-in. The exact measurement is one way of getting the right one from these high-quality toilets. It’s the distance from the drainpipe’s center to the toilet’s rear wall.

But you can find some plumbers measuring it from the wall until the toilet bolt. To make it easy for all its users, Toto made the rough-in of these toilets in the 12-inch standard measurement.

  • The Cost

The price of the one-piece Drake II is a bit higher than the two-piece Ultramax II. It’s common knowledge that one-piece toilets cost more. Drake II would also require you to spend separately for a toilet seat, while the Ultramax II comes with a soft toilet seat.

Leakage comes up because of loose washers or bolts on a toilet tank. If you have the skills, you can buy the necessary parts and replace them by yourself. Some may need to hire a plumber as they can’t do it by themselves.

  • The demands of cleaning

The one-piece design on Ultramax II promises ease of cleaning. It doesn’t have tiny gaps between the bowl and the tank which you can find in the two-piece Drake II. This type of toilet has holes too where dirt can reside.

Hence, it will be difficult for you to keep a two-piece toilet clean. On the contrary, only a little time is needed when cleaning a one-piece toilet.

  • Installation

Since the Ultramax II is one-piece, installation is straightforward. You’ll only need assistance as the whole unit is quite heavy. It’s possible to install a two-piece Drake II alone as long as you have the skills.

Time to Decide!

Toto toilet brand is one of the excellent toilet manufacturers. It creates toilets that are worth every penny. Thus, the comparison of Toto Drake II vs Ultramax II makes sense as it may be confusing to choose between the two due to their wonderful features.

The former mainly fulfill your search for aesthetic appeal, while the latter delivers the expected performance of the best toilet. It’s up to you which function you prioritize the most.

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