Comfort and Convenience
Preferred cabin temperature varies widely between people, since clothing, seating position and simple personal tolerance all differ. On a shared journey it helps to agree a setting early rather than adjusting it repeatedly.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Sorting out seating position, mirrors and lighting while still parked means those choices are made calmly. Working out an unfamiliar switch in moving traffic is a distraction worth removing before setting off.
Multimedia and Connectivity
A phone running navigation for hours drains steadily, so if a charging option is available it is worth connecting at the start. That keeps the device usable at the far end of the trip.