What Makes the UltraMax II Different From the Original UltraMax
The UltraMax II differs from the original UltraMax in four ways: the flush system, the glaze, the seat height, and how much water it uses. The original runs TOTO's G-Max flushing system at 1.6 GPF. The UltraMax II runs TORNADO FLUSH at 1.28 GPF — or 1.0 GPF on the 1G models — adds CEFIONTECT glaze, comes in Universal Height, and is built to take a WASHLET+ seat. If the older version is what you are after, the UltraMax collection still carries the standard and Eco models.
The flush system is the biggest change
TORNADO FLUSH uses two nozzles that create a centrifugal, cyclonic rinsing action, which reduces waste buildup and keeps the bowl cleaner, and it comes with a hole-free rim that TOTO says performs more consistently and is easy to clean. G-Max, on the original UltraMax, draws water into the bowl more quickly and out more forcefully. It works, but it is the older design and it needs 1.6 gallons to do the job.
CEFIONTECT is on the II, not the original
CEFIONTECT is an extraordinarily smooth glaze that prevents particulates from adhering to porous ceramic surfaces, using an ion barrier to keep the surface clean over time. Paired with the computer-designed, fully glazed trapway that both models share, it is the reason the UltraMax II bowl needs less scrubbing and less cleaning product to keep it looking new.
Universal Height comes standard
Every UltraMax II is Universal Height and ADA compliant. In practice that puts the seat about two inches higher than a standard-height bowl — closer to a dining chair than a low stool — which most adults prefer and which makes standing up easier for anyone with knee, hip or back trouble. Our comparison of Universal Height and standard height explains how to tell the two apart from the model number.
Where the UltraMax II Will Not Fit
The limits are short and worth knowing before you order:
- 12-inch rough-in only. TOTO offers no 10-inch or 14-inch version of this series and no Unifit adapter for it. Measure from the finished wall to the center of the closet bolts first — the rough-in size guide walks through it.
- Elongated bowl only. There is no round UltraMax II. An elongated bowl runs about 18.5 inches from the seat bolts to the front rim, against roughly 16.5 inches for a round one.
- One-piece means one piece. It arrives as a single heavy unit, and the tank lid is specific to the model rather than a generic replacement part.
- The WASHLET+ sets need an outlet. A grounded outlet within reach of the toilet is a requirement, not an option, on any electric seat.
UltraMax II or Drake: Which TOTO Should You Buy?
Buy the UltraMax II if you want a one-piece toilet and your rough-in measures 12 inches. Buy the Drake if you need a two-piece, a 10-inch rough-in, or a fixture you can carry in two manageable pieces. Both run TOTO flush engineering and both are stocked here, so this is a decision about format and fit, not about which one is the better toilet.
The UltraMax II fuses tank and bowl into one unit. That means fewer joints, no gap between tank and bowl to clean around, and no tank-to-bowl gasket in the picture — but also one heavy ceramic piece to move and a tank lid particular to the model. The TOTO Drake arrives as a separate tank and bowl, which is easier to handle and install, and it is the series to check if your measurement comes back at 10 inches, because TOTO sells that as a separate toilet rather than an adapter. If you need 14 inches, neither one helps: look at TOTO's Unifit series, such as the Legato, where the alternative rough-in is an adapter sold separately.
Choosing Between the WASHLET+ S7 and S7A
The difference between the S7 and the S7A on an UltraMax II is the lid: the S7A opens and closes automatically, and the S7 does not. TOTO's own feature comparison for these sets lists everything else identically on both seats — EWATER+, PREMIST, a deodorizer, an air dryer, a heated seat, rear and soft rear cleanse, front cleanse, wide front cleanse, and a night light. So the question is simply whether a lid that moves on its own is worth the difference to you. Compare the two ranges side by side: toilets with the WASHLET S7A or toilets with the WASHLET S7.
Both are WASHLET+ sets, which TOTO describes as a system that neatly conceals the WASHLET power cord and water supply hose for a clean installation. The seat and bowl are sold matched, so there is no compatibility check to do and no cord crossing the floor to an outlet. On the wash side, EWATER+ electrolyzes water to produce a sterilizing agent, hypochlorous acid, that is used to keep the wand and toilet bowl hygienic, and PREMIST wets the surface of the bowl before use, aiding in the removal of waste.
1.28 GPF or the 1G at 1.0 GPF
Both flush volumes carry the same TORNADO FLUSH, the same CEFIONTECT glaze, the same elongated bowl and the same Universal Height, and both are WaterSense certified — the 1G simply uses a gallon per flush instead of 1.28. Very low volumes leave less margin in older plumbing, so if your drain run is long or shallow, the 1.28 is the safer choice. Our guide to TOTO flush volumes covers where each one is required and where it is not.
Color
TOTO lists the toilet on its own in Cotton, Colonial White, Sedona Beige, Bone and Ebony. The WASHLET+ sets are listed in Cotton. Check the individual listing here for the finish it actually ships in.