Car commercials always irk me, especially since they're so inescapable on TV. I find they normally fall into one of two categories: boring (no examples needed) or absurdly over-the-top. (A pickup truck surviving a meteor strike? Come on!)

But I recently came across a video with an awesome use of a Toyota (NYSE: TM) Hilux. In an excerpt from the British show Top Gear, co-host James May drove his specially equipped off-roader up to the crater of an Icelandic volcano -- as it was erupting! -- and collected some freshly fallen lava. It's a must-see.

Toyota has taken heat for unintended-acceleration problems (many of which, as expected, may be driver error). But if its cars can drive up active volcanoes ... well, they can't be all bad, right?

Dan Dzombak does not own a car; he doesn't want to give up reading time to drive. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.