Comfort and Convenience
Seating position is a personal matter. A tall driver and a short one rarely settle on the same distance from the wheel, and passengers differ just as much in how upright they prefer to sit.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Taking a moment before setting off to locate the hazard lights, demister and wiper controls means those functions are already known when weather or traffic changes, instead of being searched for while the car is moving.
Multimedia and Connectivity
A phone battery drains quickly on a long trip when navigation runs the whole way. If a charging point sits within reach of the driver's seat, the phone can stay powered without being handed around.