A suspension control method for controlling a suspension control system that includes a suspension mechanism provided between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass and including an elastic body and a variable damping force damper, comprising: calculating a sprung mass speed of the sprung mass based on a value detected by at least one sensor from among a plurality of sensors; calculating a stroke speed in the suspension mechanism based on a value detected by at least one sensor from among the plurality of sensors; calculating and outputting a damping coefficient of the variable damping force damper based on the sprung mass speed that was calculated; temporarily holding the damping coefficient that was outputted; determining a target control force based on the damping coefficient that was outputted; and applying the target control force that was determined to the variable damping force damper, wherein the determining of the target control force is carried out under a first condition, based on the temporarily held damping coefficient calculated based on the sprung mass speed, and, in the case that the first condition is not met, based on the damping coefficient that was currently outputted; under a second condition, the calculating and outputting of the damping coefficient includes calculating and outputting a current damping coefficient by applying a current sprung mass speed and a current stroke speed to Karnopp's law; and in the case that an absolute value of the sprung mass speed exceeds a first sprung mass speed threshold and an absolute value of the stroke speed exceeds a stroke speed threshold, the calculating and outputting of the damping coefficient are carried out by outputting a damping coefficient calculated by applying a current sprung mass speed and the current stroke speed to Karnopp's law. calculating a sprung mass speed of the sprung mass based on a value detected by at least one sensor from among a plurality of sensors; calculating a stroke speed in the suspension mechanism based on a value detected by at least one sensor from among the plurality of sensors; calculating and outputting a damping coefficient of the variable damping force damper based on the sprung mass speed that was calculated; temporarily holding the damping coefficient that was outputted; determining a target control force based on the damping coefficient that was outputted; and applying the target control force that was determined to the variable damping force damper, wherein the determining of the target control force is carried out under a first condition, based on the temporarily held damping coefficient calculated based on the sprung mass speed, and, in the case that the first condition is not met, based on the damping coefficient that was currently outputted; under a second condition, the calculating and outputting of the damping coefficient includes calculating and outputting a current damping coefficient by applying a current sprung mass speed and a current stroke speed to Karnopp's law; and in the case that an absolute value of the sprung mass speed exceeds a first sprung mass speed threshold and an absolute value of the stroke speed exceeds a stroke speed threshold, the calculating and outputting of the damping coefficient are carried out by outputting a damping coefficient calculated by applying a current sprung mass speed and the current stroke speed to Karnopp's law.