Comfort and Convenience
Preferred cabin temperature is a good example of a personal setting: some travellers want cool air moving constantly, others find that uncomfortable. On a shared journey it is usually settled by asking rather than assuming.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Learning where the basics sit, such as hazard lights, demisting and headlight switching, is easier in a stationary car than on an unfamiliar road at night. A few minutes before setting off covers mirrors, seat position and the handbook.
Multimedia and Connectivity
Battery level matters more on a long drive than a short one, since navigation runs for hours. If a charging point is available, a suitable cable packed in advance is what actually keeps the phone usable on arrival.