The invention relates to a vehicle control device that makes it less likely or unlikely for the driver to feel strange or uncomfortable, when a vehicle returns from a coasting mode to a normal traveling mode. The vehicle control device provided with a clutch between a continuously variable transmission and drive wheels is characterized by comprising a travel control portion configured to release the clutch (a step S3) and stop the engine (a step S5) when a predetermined execution condition is satisfied during traveling (steps S1 and S2: YES), such that the vehicle performs coasting; and a return control portion configured to restart the engine (a step S10) and perform downshift of the continuously variable transmission (a step S11), when a predetermined return condition is satisfied during the coasting (a step S8: YES) and engage the clutch (a step S13) after the downshift is started, such that the vehicle returns from the coasting.