Provided is a method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle capable of improving acceleration response upon kick-down. The method includes calculating a rising gradient of a motor speed increasing during kick-down shift based on a present speed of a motor for driving the vehicle which is detected at a control unit in real time, upon detection of demand of kick-down shift due to acceleration operation of a driver, calculating a falling gradient of intervention torque based on the rising gradient of the motor speed at the control unit, determining an entry point of intervention control based on the present speed of the motor detected at the control unit in real time, and performing torque intervention control for controlling driving of the motor in order to output intervention torque, namely, motor torque decreased based on the falling gradient of intervention torque calculated from the determined entry point at the control unit.