Vehicle control apparatus

A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a step-variable transmission which is disposed between a drive power source and drive wheels and which includes a one-way clutch to be placed in its engaged state to establish a predetermined one of gear positions of the step-variable transmission, and a coupling device disposed parallel with the one-way clutch, the control apparatus comprising:

• a control portion configured to control a shift-up action of the step-variable transmission from said predetermined one gear position in which the coupling device is placed in an engaged state, the control portion controlling the shift-up action so as to delay a releasing action of the coupling device where a required torque of the vehicle prior to a moment of initiation of an inertia phase of the shift-up action is larger than a predetermined value, with respect to the releasing action where the required torque is not larger than the predetermined value.