TOTO is known for producing innovative and highly efficient toilets, and the TOTO Drake II is no exception. Even far after its release date, it is still one of the most popular toilets that TOTO has produced.
With its powerful flushing technology, the Drake II is one of the most popular toilet models on the market due to its effortless yet highly functional design. This toilet design is also one of the more economical choices from the TOTO brand, which is a big reason why the Drake II is still one of the best-selling toilets on the market.
Our team has seen the Drake II in most of the showrooms that we’ve been in, as well as many other storefronts.
Drake II
Great technology from a great brand.
What People are Saying
We were hard-pressed to find comments or anecdotes that had negative thins to say about the Drake II. In fact, on the online vendors we looked at, they all had extremely positive feelings to the toilet. Most everyone was happy and satisfied with the toilet they purchased.
Of the few negative things we did find, they had to do with the Sanagloss finish taking on additional wear and tear sooner than thought. In my experience, this feedback is to be taken on a case-by-case basis. But use your best judgement.
What We Like About the TOTO Drake II
The Drake II has an 800 MaP flush rating, which is very solid. The recommendation is to have a toilet that is at least over 500. So with the Drake II, you’re still in great shape.
Another advantage that the Drake II has is its high seat. The seat height is 17.25 inches, far above many other toilets in the same price point. This makes the Drake II popular within households where there are elderly residents…and us!
Dimensions
The dimensions and general specifications of the Drake II aren’t anything out of the ordinary. One thing to note, however, is that this model is very light compared to most two piece toilets. This will help with an easier installation.
- Rough-in: 12 inches
- Height: 30 inches
- Depth: 28.5 inches
- Width: 17.25 inches
- Seat height: 17.25 inches
- Flush: 1.28 GPF
- Trapway size: 2.125 inches
- Weight: 89 lbs.
- MaP score: 800
Installation
The installation of this toilet is incredibly easy as opposed to other complicated toilet models on the market. You need just a little bit of research and some handy tools for the installation process. You’ll also want to download the installation manual that TOTO has online. You can find it here.
It has a standard 12-inch rough-in that can easily be installed in enough bathroom space. Since it is a two-piece toilet, and not very heavy, it can easily be moved to the bathroom in parts. You’ll need to buy the toilet seat, wax ring, and water supply lines for the installation. Then you’re all set!
Flush Strength and Trapway
The Drake II features a 1.28 GPF powerful flush that conserves a lot of water in comparison to common toilets that use 1.6 GPF flushes, which is the standard set by the government. This highly efficient toilet can provide you up to 20% in water savings.
Because of this lower flush rate, it also meets EPA WaterSense standards as well. The only drawback with its single flush is that it consumes the same amount of water with every heavy waste flush as it does with every light waste flush (i.e., a dual flush toilet). However, many don’t consider this a significant efficiency drawback, as the 1.28 GPF is already low for a toilet.
Toto toilets never disappoint in providing the best flushing technologies with every product, and the Drake II is no exception. With its Double Cyclone flushing mechanism, this toilet clears all the waste in the toilet bowl with a single flush. This toilet has a very efficient flushing mechanism as the water enters the toilet bowl through the angled nozzles.
It also has a 2.125 inch wide trapway that makes sure that the waste passes through the drain pipes smoothly without clogging. Considering most toilets have a 2 inch trapway, this is another bonus of the Drake II. The powerful flushing mechanism lacks the ability of dual flushing, but again, since it’s only a 1.28 gallon flush, that isn’t a major concern for most people.
Aesthetics
This two-piece toilet is made of sturdy vitreous china and comes in a variety of color selections which include cotton white, ebony, Sedona beige, bone, and colonial white. Personally, I like the ebony version. That particular color, although it looks great, has two significant drawbacks. It doesn’t come with the CEFIONTECT technology, and it’s quite pricey.
You can also choose to get a lockable lid to prevent any problems with the flushing mechanism. Overall, the design is fairly standard, but suitable for most.
Height
This is definitely a big plus for the Drake II model. The seat height of this toilet stands at 17.25 inches. At this height, you can expect a comfortable experience anytime you sit down.
This height also makes the Drake II a favorite for commercial bathrooms as well, because it’s in compliance with ADA standards. I’ve seen the Drake II in many bathrooms in restaurants and other businesses for this exact reason.
Durability
TOTO is known around the world for the engineering within their toilet models. Put plainly, if you take care of their toilets, they will last for a long time.
I have seen some instances of homeowners complaining that there were some cosmetic issues with their model, but this generally happened well after the toilet had some time use behind it. Either way, good to keep that in mind regardless.
Bells and Whistles
The main “extras” of the Drake II mainly have to do with the technology and engineering within the toilet itself. For example, the Drake II features the Tornado Flush technology. This feature provides a hole-free rim design with dual nozzles that produces a centrifugal 360-degree swirling action that helps in clearing the waste content in the toilet bowl more effectively.
It also includes the CEFIONTECT, or SanaGloss, finish which is a layer of very smooth glaze that prevents bacteria, mold, and microbes from growing on the ceramic.
The TOTO Drake II “Toilets In The Wild” (learn about “In The Wild” photos here). This photo was taken in a TOTO showroom.
TOTO Drake II
Where the TOTO Drake II Could Be Improved
While the technology and engineering within the toilet is second to none, the look is somewhat lacking. The cost of the Drake II is well above average, generally between $450 – $600 depending on options, and for that amount I would expect more design. However, that amount starts to make more sense when you consider everything else that’s in the toilet.
Generally there is a little extra space in the rough-in measurements of a toilet that you buy (the Drake II is 12 inches). However, the Drake II is 11 7/8 inches exactly. Meaning, you don’t have that same flexibility that another toilet might give you. If you have a rough-in of 11 3/4 or less, you’ll probably want to find another toilet, as this one won’t fit.
The ToiletsMan Verdict
The technology alone make the Drake II a win in our book. We look at 18 different factors when we test and write our reviews, and of those factors, the Drake II excelled in most all of them.
Like I mentioned, the design may leave a little to be desired, but the function of the toilet is truly top notch. Which is why TOTO has the great reputation that it does.
TOTO Drake II CST454CEFG pictured at top.