Best Tornado Flush Toilets (TOTO Tornado Flush)

Tornado Flush is the name TOTO gives to a specific way of moving water around the bowl. Instead of a ring of small holes under the rim that drip water down the sides, a Tornado Flush bowl uses two or three larger angled nozzles set high on the rim. Those nozzles fire water in a swirling, tornado-like pattern that wraps the entire inner surface of the bowl before steering toward the siphon jet at the bottom. The swirl does two jobs at once. It rinses every part of the bowl surface, and it feeds the siphon hard enough to pull a heavy load through the trapway in a single pass, all at a low 1.28 gallons of water.

The payoff of this design is power without waste and cleaning without scrubbing. Because the nozzles move water deliberately rather than scattering it through dozens of tiny holes, a Tornado Flush toilet reaches the practical 1,000 gram MaP ceiling at 1.28 gallons, and it does so quietly with a smooth rush rather than the loud blast of a pressure tank. The cleaning bonus is real too: with only a couple of larger openings, there are no small rim holes for mineral scale to clog over the years, so the rinse stays even and complete. If you want to compare flush power across every system and brand, our pillar guide to the best flushing toilets covers the wider field. This page stays focused on TOTO's Tornado Flush models, which are among the most refined low-water flushers you can buy.

What Is TOTO Tornado Flush?

The simplest way to picture it is to compare it with an old toilet. A conventional bowl drips water through a ring of small holes under the rim, which can leave dry streaks, rinse unevenly and slowly plug with hard-water scale. Tornado Flush throws that ring out. In its place sit a small number of larger nozzles positioned to send water around the bowl in a deliberate spiral. That spiral wets every part of the surface and builds momentum toward the trapway, which is why a Tornado Flush toilet can hit a strong flush on so little water.

TOTO uses two closely related versions of this idea. The standard Tornado Flush appears on single-flush bodies like the Drake II and UltraMax II, where the swirl feeds a powerful 1.28 gallon siphon. The Dynamax Tornado Flush appears on dual-flush, skirted bodies like the Aquia IV, where the same swirling action runs on a 0.8 gallon liquid flush and a 1.28 gallon solid flush. Both share the no-rim-holes layout, so both stay cleaner than a rim-fed toilet over the years.

1

Best overall

TOTO Drake II

4.8 Strongest Tornado flush

The Drake II is the toilet most people picture when they think of TOTO's Tornado Flush, and it earns the full 1,000 gram MaP score at 1.28 gallons by pairing the swirling twin-nozzle wash with a fully glazed trapway.

Flush TypeTornado Flush, gravity

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 grams

Bowl HeightComfort (17.25 in)

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Households that want maximum clog insurance in one flush
• Hard-water homes tired of scrubbing scale from rim holes
• Buyers who want a quiet, gravity flush instead of a pressure tank

Not Ideal For

• Anyone who wants a seamless one-piece silhouette
• Buyers who want a fully skirted, wipe-clean base

Water leaves the tank through two large angled nozzles rather than a ring of small holes, so it sweeps around the bowl in a tornado before driving the siphon jet. That swirl rinses the entire surface and pulls waste through cleanly, and because it works on water shape and gravity rather than compressed air, the flush is a smooth rush instead of a loud blast.

It pairs the Tornado wash with TOTO's CeFiONtect glaze and a comfort-height body, so waste passes without catching and the bowl stays cleaner between cleanings. Owner reviews are unusually consistent, praising strong single-pass clearing and a long reliability record. The tradeoffs are minor: it is a two-piece, so there is a tank-to-bowl seam to wipe, and the base is not skirted.

Expert Take

If you only remember one model from this page, make it the Drake II. The combination of a 1,000 gram MaP flush, the swirling Tornado wash and a glazed trapway is the most reliable low-water setup TOTO sells, and it does it quietly. The newer Drake II body shape also clears the trapway angle better than the older standard Drake, which is why we rank it first.

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Bottom Line: The Drake II is the default Tornado Flush pick for almost every household that wants one strong, quiet, clog-resistant flush.

2

Best one-piece

TOTO UltraMax II

4.7 Seamless one-piece

The UltraMax II takes the Drake II's Tornado Flush and puts it in a sleek one-piece body with CeFiONtect glaze, keeping the same 1,000 gram MaP flush at 1.28 gallons while removing the tank-to-bowl seam.

Flush TypeTornado Flush, gravity

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 grams

Bowl HeightComfort (17.25 in)

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Buyers who want a clean, seamless one-piece look
• People who hate scrubbing a tank-to-bowl seam
• Anyone wanting full flush power with low maintenance

Not Ideal For

• Tight-budget shoppers, since one-pieces cost more
• Solo installers, because the body is heavy to lift

It carries the same two-nozzle Tornado bowl wash and the same MaP ceiling as the Drake II, so you give up nothing on flush strength while gaining a one-piece silhouette that has no seam to scrub. The glazed bowl surface helps waste and mineral buildup slide away, which keeps routine cleaning quick.

This is the pick for buyers who want the Tornado flush, a low-maintenance glazed bowl and a clean modern look in one package. As a one-piece it is heavy, so a helper is wise during installation, and it sits above the two-piece Drake II on price. An elongated comfort-height version is the popular choice, with a round-front model for tighter rooms.

Expert Take

Choose the UltraMax II only if the seamless look genuinely matters to you, because you pay extra for it and gain no flush power over the Drake II. Where it earns its keep is long-term cleaning: no tank seam plus a glazed bowl means the fixture stays presentable with almost no effort, which is why it is a favorite in primary bathrooms.

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Bottom Line: The same 1,000 gram Tornado flush as the Drake II, wrapped in a seamless, low-maintenance one-piece body.

3

Most available

TOTO Drake

4.8 Widely stocked two-piece

The standard Drake is the TOTO toilet plumbers reach for when a customer wants one safe, dependable choice, and the 1.28 gallon version uses the Tornado-style bowl wash feeding a wide 3 inch flush valve and a glazed trapway to reach a 1,000 gram MaP score.

Flush TypeTornado-style, 3 in valve

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 grams

Bowl HeightUniversal / comfort

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Buyers who want the easiest model to find and service
• Landlords and contractors who need cheap, common parts
• Anyone wanting full flush power at a friendlier price

Not Ideal For

• Buyers who want the refined Drake II bowl shape
• People who want a skirted or seamless base

Its real strength is a long, unusually consistent owner-review history with low clog complaints and excellent parts availability, so repairs stay cheap and simple years down the line. The wide 3 inch flush valve dumps water fast, which keeps the swirl strong even on a low-water flush.

The Drake II edges it out on bowl shape and finish refinement, but the standard Drake delivers the same headline MaP score and the same quiet swirl flush at a lower price. It is a two-piece and not skirted, so expect a little extra wiping around the seam and base.

Expert Take

The standard Drake is the value-conscious workhorse of the Tornado lineup. For a rental, a guest bath or any spot where you want a toilet that simply works and is trivial to repair a decade from now, this is the smart buy. Pay the Drake II premium only if the newer bowl shape and finish matter in your main bathroom.

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Bottom Line: The most available and most serviceable Tornado-style two-piece, with the same 1,000 gram flush as our top pick.

4

Best dual-flush

TOTO Aquia IV

4.5 Dual-flush water saving

The Aquia IV brings TOTO's Dynamax Tornado Flush to a dual-flush, skirted body, so you get the swirling twin-nozzle wash plus a 0.8 gallon liquid flush and a 1.28 gallon solid flush to cut daily water use.

Flush TypeDynamax Tornado, dual

GPF0.8 / 1.28

MaP Score800 grams

Bowl HeightComfort, skirted

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Water-conscious homes that want a low effective GPF
• Buyers who want a modern skirted, wipe-clean base
• People who like the swirl wash but want dual-flush trim

Not Ideal For

• Households that want the maximum 1,000 gram MaP score
• Anyone wanting the simplest possible flush valve to service

It is fully skirted, which hides the trapway contours and lets the base wipe clean in seconds, and the bowl carries CeFiONtect glaze. The Dynamax Tornado action scours the bowl like the single-flush models, but on a lighter water budget for the liquid flush.

The 800 gram MaP score on the full flush sits below the 1,000 gram Drake II yet still clears a normal household load with room to spare. The tradeoff of any dual-flush is a slightly more involved valve to service down the line, but for water savings and a modern look it is the standout swirl-flush body.

Expert Take

Pick the Aquia IV if lowering your water bill and a clean skirted look outrank squeezing out the last 200 grams of MaP. In real households the 800 gram flush rarely struggles, and the dual-flush handle saves real water over a year. Just be aware the dual valve is the one part most likely to need attention eventually.

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Bottom Line: The swirling Tornado wash in a skirted, dual-flush body that trims water use without giving up real-world clearing.

5

Best skirted

TOTO Vespin II

4.6 Skirted full-power flush

The Vespin II is essentially a skirted two-piece version of the Drake II, keeping the Tornado Flush and a 1,000 gram MaP score while hiding the trapway behind a smooth, wipe-clean skirt.

Flush TypeTornado Flush, gravity

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 grams

Bowl HeightComfort, skirted

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Buyers who want full flush power and a skirted base
• People who hate cleaning around exposed trapway contours
• Modern bathrooms wanting a clean, concealed profile

Not Ideal For

• Installers, since skirted bowls use a special mounting
• Tight budgets, as it costs more than the standard Drake

The skirt smooths over the sides of the bowl so there are no trapway curves to wipe around, which makes it one of the easier full-power Tornado toilets to keep clean. The flush itself is the same swirling 1,000 gram action as the Drake II, so you lose nothing on power by choosing the cleaner look.

The catch is installation: skirted toilets mount differently from a standard floor-bolt setup, so a first-time installer should read the instructions carefully or hire it out. Owner reviews highlight the strong flush and the easy-clean base as the two reasons they chose it over a conventional two-piece.

Expert Take

The Vespin II is the answer for anyone who loved the Drake II flush but wanted the skirted look of the Aquia IV without dropping to an 800 gram MaP score. You keep the full 1,000 gram swirl and gain a base that wipes clean in one pass. Just budget a little extra installation patience for the skirted mounting.

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Bottom Line: Full 1,000 gram Tornado power in a skirted, easy-clean body for buyers who refuse to compromise on either.

6

Best value

TOTO Entrada

4.6 Cheapest TOTO swirl flush

The Entrada is TOTO's value two-piece and the easiest way into the brand's nozzle-style swirl wash without paying for a premium Drake or UltraMax body, clearing 800 grams on the MaP test at 1.28 gallons.

Flush TypeTornado-style swirl wash

GPF1.28

MaP Score800 grams

Bowl HeightComfort (17.25 in)

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Budget buyers who still want a genuine TOTO swirl flush
• Secondary bathrooms and rentals that need value
• Anyone replacing an old rim-fed toilet cheaply

Not Ideal For

• Buyers who want the 1,000 gram Drake-tier flush
• People who want the CeFiONtect glaze or 3 in valve

It uses a cyclone-pattern rinse fed from larger nozzles rather than a ring of small rim holes, so it cleans the bowl evenly and feeds the siphon at a low 1.28 gallons. The 800 gram MaP score sits below the leaders but comfortably clears a typical home load.

It comes in a comfort-height elongated shape that most adults find easy to use, and owner reviews praise the strong rinse and clean look for the money. It does not include CeFiONtect glaze or the wider 3 inch valve of the Drake models, so the bowl needs a little more routine cleaning.

Expert Take

The Entrada proves you do not need the top of the range to get TOTO's signature swirl rinse. For a guest bath, a basement, or a tight remodel budget, it gives you the no-rim-holes cleaning advantage and a solid 800 gram flush. Step up to the Drake only if you truly need the extra clog insurance of a 1,000 gram score.

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Bottom Line: The most affordable way to get a genuine TOTO swirl flush, with strong real-world clearing for the price.

7

Best for small bathrooms

TOTO UltraMax II (round-front)

4.6 Compact full-power flush

The round-front UltraMax II keeps the full Tornado Flush and 1,000 gram MaP score in a more compact one-piece body, trading a little bowl length for valuable floor space in a tight bathroom.

Flush TypeTornado Flush, gravity

GPF1.28

MaP Score1,000 grams

Bowl HeightComfort, round front

Warranty1-year limited

Best For

• Small bathrooms and narrow water closets
• Rooms where a door or vanity limits bowl projection
• Buyers who want full flush power in a compact body

Not Ideal For

• Taller adults who prefer a roomier elongated bowl
• Solo installers, since the one-piece is heavy

The two-nozzle Tornado bowl wash and glazed CeFiONtect surface carry over from the elongated UltraMax II, and the round-front body still reaches the 1,000 gram MaP ceiling at 1.28 gallons, so you keep full flush power while saving a few inches of projection.

It remains a one-piece, so there is no tank seam to scrub and the body wipes down quickly. A round bowl is slightly less roomy than an elongated one for taller adults, which is the main tradeoff, but for a cramped layout that compromise is usually worth it.

Expert Take

Reach for the round-front UltraMax II only when floor space genuinely forces your hand, because an elongated bowl is more comfortable when you have room for it. Where space is tight, though, this is the rare compact toilet that refuses to give up flush power, keeping the full 1,000 gram Tornado wash in a smaller footprint.

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Bottom Line: A compact one-piece that keeps the full Tornado flush power for bathrooms where space is scarce.

Which Tornado Flush Toilet Has the Strongest Flush?

MaP (Maximum Performance) is the independent flush-test standard that measures how many grams of solid waste a toilet clears in a single flush. Anything that scores 1,000 grams has effectively maxed the test, so the four single-flush, full-power TOTO bodies are tied at the top on paper. In practice, the Drake II edges ahead because its newer bowl and trapway geometry channel the swirl into the siphon a touch more efficiently. If you want to compare the highest scorers across every brand and flush system, see our guide to the strongest flushing toilets with the highest MaP scores.

What Is the Best Tornado Flush Toilet for Preventing Clogs?

Clog resistance is not about water volume; it is about flush momentum and trapway smoothness. A swirling Tornado wash builds momentum even at 1.28 gallons, and a glazed trapway removes the rough ceramic where waste tends to snag. The UltraMax II and Vespin II share the same glaze-plus-1,000-gram recipe, so they resist clogs nearly as well. For the broader field of low-clog picks across all brands, see our guide to toilets that never clog.

Which Tornado Flush Toilet Offers the Best Value?

Value depends on what you are optimizing. If the lowest price wins, the Entrada gives you a genuine TOTO swirl flush and the cleaning benefit of no small rim holes for the least money. If you want maximum flush power per dollar, the standard Drake is the smarter buy because it hits the full 1,000 gram MaP score and shares cheap, widely stocked parts. For more strong-flush picks across brands, see our guide to the best toilet for heavy waste, which leans on powerful, affordable flushers.

What Is a Good MaP Score for a Tornado Flush Toilet?

For context, most households generate well under 250 grams of waste in a normal use, so even an 800 gram toilet has a wide margin. The reason buyers chase 1,000 grams is insurance: a higher score means the flush keeps clearing reliably as the toilet ages, after a low-water year, or with heavier loads. With a Tornado Flush model, the 1,000 gram bodies pair that score with a glazed trapway, which is why they top our clog-resistance ranking.

Tornado Flush vs the older Double Cyclone name

You will see two TOTO terms used almost interchangeably: Tornado Flush and Double Cyclone. They describe the same core idea, water fired from a small number of nozzles rather than a ring of rim holes, to create a swirling rinse. Tornado Flush is the current marketing name and usually denotes the higher-flow swirl on premium bodies, while Double Cyclone was the earlier label. For buying purposes, treat them as the same family of swirl flush, and focus on the MaP score and glaze instead of the name on the box. Our deep dive on the best Double Cyclone flush toilets covers the overlap in detail.

Check the MaP score, not just the flush name

A swirling bowl wash sounds powerful, but the MaP score tells you what it actually clears. Within the Tornado range, the Drake II, standard Drake, Vespin II and UltraMax II all reach 1,000 grams, while value bodies like the Entrada and the dual-flush Aquia IV sit around 800 grams. Both tiers clear a normal household, but if you want maximum clog resistance, choose a 1,000 gram model. Do not assume the Tornado name alone guarantees the top score; always confirm the published MaP figure for the exact model you are buying.

One-piece or two-piece, skirted or standard

A one-piece Tornado toilet like the UltraMax II has no tank-to-bowl seam to clean and looks sleeker, but it is heavier to carry and install. A two-piece like the Drake II is lighter and easier to maneuver and repair, at the cost of a seam to wipe. A skirted body like the Vespin II or Aquia IV hides the trapway contours so the base wipes clean fast, but skirted toilets mount differently, so plan for a slightly fussier install. Decide which body tradeoffs fit your space and DIY comfort before you choose a model.

Confirm rough-in, bowl height and water efficiency

Even the best Tornado Flush toilet is useless if it does not fit. Rough-in is the distance from the finished wall to the center of the floor drain bolts, and most homes use 12 inches, though older houses sometimes have 10 or 14 inch rough-ins. Comfort-height bowls sit around 17 to 19 inches off the floor and suit most adults, while standard height works better for small children. Every model here is EPA WaterSense certified at 1.28 gallons or less, so you also get the lowest water bills the category allows. Confirm rough-in and height before ordering so your TOTO installs cleanly the first time.