CONTROL DEVICE OF HYBRID VEHICLE

A control device of a hybrid vehicle including an engine, motor that receives power from the engine via an engine connecting and disconnecting device, and automatic transmission, starts the engine in a first starting method in which the engine performs ignition and rotates by itself after the engine speed is increased to be equal to or higher than a predetermined rotational speed through slipping engagement of the engine connecting and disconnecting device, or a second starting method in which the engine performs ignition and rotates by itself from a stage before the engine speed reaches the predetermined rotational speed, and controls the automatic transmission to permit a lower gear position to be established according to shift conditions when the engine is started in the second starting method during a downshift of the automatic transmission, as compared with when the engine is started in the first starting method during the downshift.