Comfort and Convenience
Where people like to sit varies widely. Taller drivers usually want more distance from the wheel, shorter ones prefer to be closer, and passengers have their own habits, so one arrangement rarely suits everybody on board.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Spend a few minutes parked at the start, working out how the lighting, demisting and gear selection are operated. Knowing this in advance saves fumbling when weather or traffic changes without warning.
Multimedia and Connectivity
Calls on the road are a separate need from music. If hands-free calling is available and set up beforehand, conversations can be handled without holding a phone, which counts on long stretches.