Method for controlling mht powertrain hardware components as a function of driver demanded responsiveness

A hybrid vehicle comprising:

• a traction battery;
• an electric machine powered by the traction battery;
• an engine;
• a disconnect clutch selectively coupling the engine and the electric machine;
• and
• a controller programmed to:
• in response to a request to start the engine and a first state of driving (SOD) being detected, (i) command a first speed target to the engine equal to a predicted motor speed plus a first offset that is based on the first SOD and (ii) command locking of the disconnect clutch when a speed difference between the engine and the motor are less than a first threshold that is based on the first SOD, and
• in response to another request to start the engine and a second SOD being detected, (i) command a second speed target to the engine equal to a predicted motor speed plus a second offset that is based on the second SOD, and ii) command locking of the disconnect clutch when speeds of the engine and the motor are less than a second threshold that is based on the second SOD, wherein the first offset is different than the second offset and the first threshold is different than the second threshold.