VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle control device with which improved fuel economy and reduced exhaust emissions can be effectively achieved without affecting the driver when moving in pursuit of a leading vehicle. The present invention has: a following-determination means (53) which, when moving in pursuit of a leading vehicle, determines, based on the speed of the host vehicle, the speed of the leading vehicle and the distance from the leading vehicle, that the host vehicle is able to keep up with the leading vehicle; and an idle-stop determination means (55) which, when the following determination means have determined that the host vehicle could keep up with the leading vehicle uphill and that the driving / moving state of the host vehicle meets other criteria for a moving idle stop, determines that an idle stop should be performed;and is provided with a means for updating determination criteria (54) to update the determination criteria for the idle shutdown determination means with respect to criteria such as the main characteristics of the vehicle, road surface conditions, and weather conditions. In the event that it has been determined, from the determination conditions that have been updated with respect to the main characteristics of the vehicle, etc., that the following by the coast is possible, a check to shut down the on-board engine is carried out.