Method for controlling a motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine having a system for variable actuation of the intake valves and with an electric start motor capable of operating with the internal combustion engine moving, wherein said method comprises a phase of activation of an operating mode with the engine off and the vehicle moving, in which the fuel supply to the engine is cut-off, and wherein after the cut-off of the fuel supply to the engine the system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled to vary the opening time and/or closing time and/or the lift of the intake valves so as to control the losses due to a pumping effect which occur within the engine in said cut-off condition, the method comprising the step of controlling the intake valves so as to temporarily minimise the pumping losses to increase the engine run-down time, i.e. the time required to reach the stop of the drive shaft, so as to allow a possible change-of-mind of the driver, and a restart of the engine by reactivating the fuel supply when the engine is still moving, characterised in that: - the internal combustion engine is provided with a system for variable actuation of the engine valves comprising at least one camshaft connected to the drive shaft, in which each intake valve is controlled by a respective tappet actuated by a respective cam of said camshaft, against the action of spring means associated to each intake valve which return the intake valve towards a closed position, and in which said tappet is connected to said intake valve through hydraulic actuation means, comprising a pressure hydraulic chamber which can be connected to an exhaust channel through an electronically controlled solenoid valve, so as to uncouple the intake valve from the respective cam and cause the closing thereof due to said return spring means, - said system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled so that the opening time and/or closing time and also the lift of the intake valves is varied so as to differently actuate intake valves associated to different cylinders and so as to differently actuate the same intake valve over time as a function of the engine operating conditions, detected by an electronic control unit through a plurality of sensors. - the internal combustion engine is provided with a system for variable actuation of the engine valves comprising at least one camshaft connected to the drive shaft, in which each intake valve is controlled by a respective tappet actuated by a respective cam of said camshaft, against the action of spring means associated to each intake valve which return the intake valve towards a closed position, and in which said tappet is connected to said intake valve through hydraulic actuation means, comprising a pressure hydraulic chamber which can be connected to an exhaust channel through an electronically controlled solenoid valve, so as to uncouple the intake valve from the respective cam and cause the closing thereof due to said return spring means, - said system for variable actuation of the intake valves is controlled so that the opening time and/or closing time and also the lift of the intake valves is varied so as to differently actuate intake valves associated to different cylinders and so as to differently actuate the same intake valve over time as a function of the engine operating conditions, detected by an electronic control unit through a plurality of sensors.