A hybrid electric vehicle comprising: an engine and at least one electric propulsion motor, the vehicle being operable in a HEV mode in which the engine may be switched on automatically during a drive-cycle by control means and an electric vehicle -only mode in which engine starting is inhibited during a drive-cycle, the vehicle being operable in one of a plurality of attribute modes in which one or more operating parameters of the vehicle are changed by the control means responsive to the identity of the selected attribute mode, the attribute modes including a first attribute mode and a second or further attribute mode comprising at least one terrain response mode, wherein when in the HEV mode and the first attribute mode is selected by the driver, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and continued operation in the first attribute mode, and when in the HEV mode and a terrain response mode has been selected by the driver, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and automatic de-selection by the vehicle of the terrain response mode, the vehicle being operable by the driver to assume an automatic attribute mode selection mode in which the vehicle is configured automatically to determine which attribute mode to select, wherein when the vehicle is in the automatic attribute mode selection mode and the first attribute mode is selected, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and continued operation in the first attribute mode, and when the vehicle is in the automatic attribute mode selection mode and a terrain response mode has been selected, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver is refused and results in continued operation in the terrain response mode. an engine and at least one electric propulsion motor, the vehicle being operable in a HEV mode in which the engine may be switched on automatically during a drive-cycle by control means and an electric vehicle -only mode in which engine starting is inhibited during a drive-cycle, the vehicle being operable in one of a plurality of attribute modes in which one or more operating parameters of the vehicle are changed by the control means responsive to the identity of the selected attribute mode, the attribute modes including a first attribute mode and a second or further attribute mode comprising at least one terrain response mode, wherein when in the HEV mode and the first attribute mode is selected by the driver, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and continued operation in the first attribute mode, and when in the HEV mode and a terrain response mode has been selected by the driver, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and automatic de-selection by the vehicle of the terrain response mode, the vehicle being operable by the driver to assume an automatic attribute mode selection mode in which the vehicle is configured automatically to determine which attribute mode to select, wherein when the vehicle is in the automatic attribute mode selection mode and the first attribute mode is selected, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver results in assumption of the EV-only mode and continued operation in the first attribute mode, and when the vehicle is in the automatic attribute mode selection mode and a terrain response mode has been selected, selection of the EV-only mode by the driver is refused and results in continued operation in the terrain response mode.