In a hybrid vehicle, when using an ignition start to start a direct injection engine while any one of the cylinders has stopped near top dead center, engine revolutions are raised by producing a first explosion in a first cylinder, which is situated before a second cylinder in an ignition sequence and is in an expansion stroke and in which an exhaust value is not open, by directly injecting fuel into the first cylinder and igniting the fuel. Furthermore, assistance in increasing the engine revolutions is started by transmitting assist torque output from a motor-generator to the direct injection engine via a clutch, in a peak section immediately after the start of increase in the engine revolutions. The stopped direct injection engine can be started using a sufficient required assist torque, namely, electrical energy, whereby the electrical energy for engine starting that is always reserved in a battery (accumulator apparatus) is reduced and therefore a travel range is increased and vehicle fuel consumption is improved appropriately.