A control unit of a hybrid vehicle derives maximum assisting electric power and maximum chargeable electric power of a battery, and permits a shift to an engine direct coupled drive in the event that an imaginary operation point of an internal combustion engine where the maximum assisting electric power is supplied to a motor and an imaginary operation point of the internal combustion engine where the maximum chargeable electric power is stored in the battery, at a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine which corresponds to a required driving force required on the hybrid vehicle when the hybrid vehicle executes the engine direct coupled drive, are positioned inside an area where energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle becomes higher when the hybrid vehicle executes the engine direct coupled drive than when the hybrid vehicle executes a series drive.