TOTO CST744SL#01 Drake Two-Piece Elongated Toilet
A rock-solid, no-fuss workhorse from one of the world's most respected toilet manufacturers — the TOTO Drake earns an 8.5 / 10 for its powerful G-Max flush, durable build quality, and surprisingly attainable price point for a premium brand. If you want a toilet that simply works, every time, for decades, this is it.
Overview
The TOTO CST744SL#01 Drake Two-Piece Elongated Toilet has been a flagship workhorse in TOTO's residential lineup for years, and for good reason. Built around TOTO's proprietary G-Max flushing system and finished in a classic Cotton White glaze, this elongated two-piece toilet strikes a careful balance between everyday practicality and genuine performance engineering. It is aimed squarely at homeowners, contractors, and renovation specialists who want reliable, WaterSense-era performance without stepping into the luxury smart-toilet tier.
Two-piece toilets have a well-earned reputation for easier shipping, simpler DIY installation, and lower replacement costs when only one component fails. The Drake leans into those advantages while adding TOTO's above-average quality control to the mix. The elongated bowl offers greater seated comfort than a round bowl, making it a natural choice for master bathrooms and guest baths alike, though you should confirm you have the 12-inch rough-in clearance the model requires.
Who should consider the Drake? Homeowners upgrading from a builder-grade toilet, landlords fitting out rental properties with something more reliable than the cheapest option, or anyone who has simply had enough of repeated clogs and weak flushes. It is not a bidet seat-ready smart toilet, nor does it carry the ultra-low 1.0 GPF rating of some high-efficiency models — but within its 1.6 GPF class it is genuinely hard to beat.
Key features
TOTO's wide 3-inch flush valve paired with a large siphon jet delivers a powerful, virtually silent flush that clears the bowl in a single cycle with exceptional consistency.
The super-smooth ion-barrier surface resists mold, bacteria, and mineral deposits, drastically reducing cleaning frequency and keeping the bowl looking newer for longer.
The extended bowl provides noticeably more seating comfort than a compact round bowl — a meaningful upgrade for daily use, especially for adults and elderly users.
Designed for the most common rough-in distance found in North American homes, making it a direct drop-in replacement for the vast majority of existing toilet installations.
The seat height lands at a comfortable 15-inch bowl rim, which with a standard seat reaches roughly 16–17 inches — accessible and comfortable for a wide range of users.
Heavy-duty vitreous china resists chipping, cracking, and staining far better than lower-cost alternatives, contributing to the toilet's exceptionally long service life.
Full specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Number | CST744SL#01 |
| Color / Finish | Cotton White (#01) |
| Flush Volume | 1.6 GPF (6.0 LPF) |
| Flush System | G-Max with 3-inch flush valve |
| Bowl Shape | Elongated |
| Configuration | Two-piece |
| Rough-In | 12 inches |
| Bowl Height (rim) | 15 inches |
| Overall Height | 28.375 inches |
| Overall Width | 19.5 inches |
| Overall Depth | 28.375 inches |
| Trapway Size | 2.125-inch fully glazed |
| Water Surface Area | 9 x 8 inches |
| Bowl Surface Treatment | SanaGloss |
| Material | Vitreous china |
| Seat Included | No (sold separately) |
| Certifications | cUPC, ADA compliant |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
Pros & cons
Pros
- Extremely powerful and consistent G-Max flush
- SanaGloss glaze keeps bowl cleaner with less effort
- Durable vitreous china built to last decades
- Easy standard 12-inch rough-in installation
- Elongated bowl provides superior comfort
- Widely available replacement parts
- Competitive price for a TOTO product
- Very low clog frequency in real-world use
Cons
- Seat not included — adds to total cost
- 1.6 GPF is not the most water-efficient option available
- Two-piece design means a visible seam to clean around
- Heavier tank makes solo installation trickier
- Only one rough-in size option (12 inches)
- Cotton White may not match all bathroom palettes
Heads up: The Drake ships without a toilet seat. Budget an additional $30–$80 for a compatible elongated seat, or consider TOTO's own SoftClose seat for a seamless look.
Performance
Out of the box, installation is straightforward for anyone with basic plumbing experience — the two-piece design means you are working with a lighter bowl and a separately mounted tank, which simplifies maneuvering in a tight bathroom. The standard 12-inch rough-in fits the vast majority of North American homes, so swapping out an existing toilet is generally uncomplicated. First-time DIYers may want a helper just for lifting the tank securely into position.
Where the Drake truly distinguishes itself is flush performance. The G-Max system combines a wide 3-inch flush valve with a large siphon jet to generate a swift, low-noise flush with excellent bulk waste removal. In practical everyday use, a second flush is rarely needed. The 2.125-inch fully glazed trapway further reduces the likelihood of clogs compared to narrower passageways found on budget competitors. Households that have struggled with chronically clogging toilets frequently report a dramatic improvement after switching to the Drake.
The SanaGloss surface lives up to its promise. The ion-barrier glaze creates a surface so smooth that deposits and stains struggle to gain a foothold, and a weekly wipe-down is genuinely sufficient to keep the bowl looking clean. Over months of use the difference between a SanaGloss bowl and a standard glazed bowl becomes obvious — mineral rings and organic buildup simply do not accumulate at the same rate. Water noise is minimal — the tank refill is quiet and the flush itself is a controlled whoosh rather than a roar, which matters in bathrooms adjacent to bedrooms.
The elongated bowl rim sits at 15 inches, which combined with a standard seat brings the seated height to a comfortable range for most adults. Taller users or those with mobility considerations may still prefer a chair-height (ADA) model, but for average adult use the Drake hits a comfortable sweet spot. The bowl's water surface area is generous, which helps with splash reduction during use.
Value for money
The TOTO Drake typically retails in the $300–$400 range (before seat), which places it well above entry-level builder-grade toilets but comfortably below TOTO's own Ultramax II, Vespin, or Aquia series. Within that mid-range price bracket, it is one of the strongest performers available. Comparable flush performance from competitors often comes at a similar price but without the brand reputation, parts availability, or surface treatment quality that TOTO brings to the table.
The one-year manufacturer warranty is the weakest element of the value proposition — most premium competitors offer longer coverage. That said, vitreous china toilets with quality internals rarely fail catastrophically; the more common maintenance points (fill valve, flapper, handle) are inexpensive to replace and TOTO parts are widely stocked. Long-term ownership costs are low.
The 1.6 GPF rating is not class-leading in water conservation — TOTO's own Aquia and Ultramax II lines go lower. If your water rates are high or you are committed to reducing water consumption, a dual-flush or 1.28 GPF model may pay back the price premium over time. For most households, however, the difference in annual water cost between 1.6 GPF and 1.28 GPF is modest, and the Drake's flush reliability with fewer second-flush events offsets some of that gap in practice.
Buyer tip: Pair the Drake with TOTO's SS114#01 SoftClose elongated seat for a factory-matched look and a lid that will never slam, making it a complete upgrade from most builder-grade toilet setups.
Final verdict
The TOTO CST744SL#01 Drake Two-Piece Elongated Toilet earns a confident 8.5 out of 10. It is not the flashiest toilet on the market, nor is it the most water-efficient, and the missing seat is a minor irritation at this price. But on the metrics that matter most — flush reliability, bowl cleanliness, long-term durability, and ease of installation — it performs at a level that genuinely justifies its price premium over builder-grade alternatives. For homeowners who want a dependable, quality-built toilet they will not have to think about for the next fifteen to twenty years, the Drake is an excellent choice and a smart long-term investment.
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Does the TOTO Drake come with a toilet seat?
No. The CST744SL#01 Drake is sold without a seat. You will need to purchase a compatible elongated toilet seat separately. TOTO manufactures several matching seats, including SoftClose options designed to complement the Drake's aesthetic.
What rough-in size does the TOTO Drake require?
The Drake CST744SL is designed for a standard 12-inch rough-in, which is the distance from the finished wall to the center of the floor drain. This is the most common rough-in size in North American homes, making the Drake a straightforward replacement for most existing toilets. TOTO does not offer this specific model in 10-inch or 14-inch rough-in configurations.
How does the G-Max flush system compare to a standard flush?
The G-Max system uses a larger 3-inch flush valve (versus the typical 2-inch valve on standard toilets) combined with a concentrated siphon jet to create significantly more flushing power. The result is a faster, more complete bowl evacuation with a lower incidence of clogs. Most users switching from a builder-grade toilet notice an immediate and significant difference in performance.
Is the TOTO Drake ADA compliant?
The Drake CST744SL has a bowl rim height of 15 inches, and when paired with a standard toilet seat reaches approximately 16–17 inches total — within ADA guidelines for comfortable access. However, if you specifically need a chair-height or comfort-height toilet (17–19 inches to the seat surface), you may want to consider TOTO's Drake II or Ultramax II, which are explicitly designed to that height specification.
What does SanaGloss actually do, and does it last?
SanaGloss is TOTO's proprietary ion-barrier ceramic glaze applied to the bowl's inner surface. It creates an exceptionally smooth, non-porous barrier that prevents bacteria, mold, and mineral deposits from adhering to the ceramic. In practice, owners report that the bowl stays visibly cleaner between cleanings and that stubborn mineral rings are far less common than on standard glazed bowls. The glaze is baked into the ceramic during manufacturing and does not wear off under normal household use.