In the present invention, a determination is made as to whether towing travel is under way, in which vehicle weight is increased, and when towing travel is under way, the compensating torque provided by a motor generator is decreased relative to the compensating torque provided during non-towing travel, and the torque of the motor generator is therefore reduced by a commensurate amount and fuel efficiency is enhanced. During towing travel in which the vehicle weight is large, a large drive force is usually necessary and the frequency of use of the motor generator increases; however, the compensating torque during engine start is reduced, and the load on the motor generator is thereby mitigated by a commensurate amount, and overheating and the like are suppressed. Since the inertia of the vehicle is relatively small during non-towing travel, i.e., normal travel, in which the vehicle weight is relatively small, variations in the drive force due to the engine starting torque are relatively increased, and shocks such as a sense of being pulled back become significant. However, because the compensating torque provided by the motor generator is increased correspondingly with the starting torque, shocks are adequately suppressed.