When exercising control to start a vehicle from rest, the vehicle engine and a clutch are controlled in a very low speed control mode if the amount by which an accelerator pedal is depressed is less than a set value. If the amount of accelerator pedal depression is greater than the set value, the engine and clutch are controlled in an ordinary start control mode. When the vehicle is travelling and the speed thereof is less than a set value, the clutch is controlled in a start control mode. When the travelling speed of the vehicle is greater than the set value, the clutch is controlled in a shift mode.