Yeah, the Frontier in its current configuration has been around a LONG time.
My neighbor has one, a 2000 I think, and I've driven it; nothing special, but I didn't find it hateful.
It's a 2WD and with winter tires, he drives it 100 miles a day even in brutal winter conditions.
I briefly had a '98 Ranger, 2.3/stick, utterly gutless.
Only way to keep from getting run over was floor it and try to powershift it best I could.