Patent ID: 7314426

Claim:
A hybrid vehicle comprising: a two freedom-degree differential mechanism having at least first through fourth rotational elements disposed on an alignment chart; an engine, an output gear which outputs a driving force to a drive wheel, a first motor, and a second motor, which are connected to the first through fourth rotational elements, respectively; an engine clutch interposed between the first rotational element and the engine; and a controller which controls a rotation speed of the engine, the first motor, and the second motor and an engagement of the engine clutch, wherein the controller functions to: modify a speed ratio, which is a ratio between the rotation speed of the engine and the rotation speed of the output gear, to be continuously variable by controlling the rotation speed of at least one of the first motor, the second motor, and the engine; and when switching from a travel mode in which the vehicle travels with the engine clutch disengaged to a travel mode in which the vehicle travels with the engine clutch engaged, perform a preparatory speed change to reduce a rotation speed differential in the engine clutch, engage the engine clutch when the rotation speed differential in the engine clutch is reduced, and then perform a completion speed change until the speed ratio required in the post-switching travel mode is obtained, and an upper limit value of a shifting speed during at least one of the preparatory speed change and the completion speed change is set to a different value to the upper limit value of the shifting speed when a speed change is performed during traveling in the same travel mode.