Toilets Buying Guide

TOTO Aimes vs Carlyle II vs UltraMax II Toilet: Which One-Piece TOTO?

TOTO's premium one-piece lineup has four similar models — Aimes, Carlyle II, UltraMax II, Soiree, Legato. Here is how to pick.

5 min read
Updated May 27, 2026
Category: Toilets

What these models share

All five are one-piece, 12-inch rough-in, 1.28 GPF, elongated, comfort-height (17-17.5"), Tornado Flush, CeFiONtect glaze, SoftClose seat included. They are stylistic variations of the same engineering platform — the differences are visual, not functional.

The five models in order of design language

TOTO Aimes ($900-1,000): the cleanest modern minimalist design. Geometric angular tank, knife-edge bowl. Suited to contemporary bathrooms, large-format tile, frameless shower. The "showroom favorite" of the premium TOTO one-pieces.

TOTO Carlyle II ($850-950): classic-modern hybrid. Slightly softer angles than Aimes, traditional toilet silhouette executed cleanly. Suits transitional bathrooms where contemporary feels too cold.

TOTO UltraMax II ($750-850): traditional one-piece silhouette. Looks like a "normal" one-piece but with Tornado Flush and CeFiONtect. The all-arounder — fits in any bathroom style.

TOTO Soiree ($1,100-1,300): traditional with skirted base. The visible trapway is hidden under a smooth porcelain skirt. Top-of-line for traditional aesthetics.

TOTO Legato ($900-1,000): contemporary skirted, similar form factor to Aimes but with skirted trapway. The skirted version of Aimes, essentially.

Direct visual differences

Tank profile: Aimes is angular and modern; UltraMax II is rounded and traditional; Soiree is somewhere between.

Trapway visibility: Aimes shows traditional curved trapway; Soiree and Legato hide it under a skirt; Carlyle II and UltraMax II show it.

Bowl proportions: Aimes has flatter, wider bowl; UltraMax II has deeper, narrower bowl.

Functional differences (small but real)

All five have Tornado Flush with identical 1.28 GPF — no measurable flush performance difference. Soiree and Legato (skirted) require slightly different installation but provide easier base cleaning. Aimes has the narrowest bowl footprint — best for tight bathrooms.

Which to choose

Modern minimalist bathroom: Aimes.

Traditional bathroom: UltraMax II.

Transitional bathroom: Carlyle II.

Easy-clean priority (any aesthetic): Soiree (traditional) or Legato (modern) — skirted base wipes flat.

Best value for a luxury TOTO: UltraMax II at $750-850 is the value sweet spot of this lineup.

Honest verdict

These models all flush identically and clean equally well. Pick on aesthetics alone — what looks right in your bathroom. The $250 price spread between UltraMax II and Soiree is purely styling, not performance.

Our Top Picks

Based on our analysis, these are our top recommendations:

TOTO

TOTO UltraMax II One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

CeFiONtect One-piece, skirted trapway 1000 Elongated
TOTO

TOTO Carlyle II One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

CeFiONtect One-piece, low-profile silhouette 800 Elongated
TOTO

TOTO Soiree One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

CeFiONtect Designer one-piece with sculpted curves 1000 Elongated
TOTO

TOTO Aimes One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

CeFiONtect Low rectangular one-piece, contemporary architectural 800 Elongated
TOTO

TOTO Legato One-Piece Elongated 1.28 GPF Toilet

CeFiONtect Modern designer one-piece, low profile 800 Elongated