Comfort and Convenience
Cabin temperature is a common point of negotiation, since people arrive dressed differently and sit in different amounts of sunlight. Agreeing a setting early, rather than adjusting it repeatedly, usually keeps everyone reasonably content.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Learning where the essential switches sit — lights, wipers, demisting, hazard flashers — is worth a few minutes before setting off. Searching for them mid-journey pulls attention away from the road and from passengers.
Multimedia and Connectivity
Passengers often want to keep a phone charged on a long run. Where a suitable power outlet or USB socket is available, a cable kept in the car saves borrowing one mid-journey.