A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a motor and an engine includes: calculating a first startup reference value of the engine on the basis of requested power of the hybrid vehicle; measuring a current speed of the hybrid vehicle, and predicting a future speed of the hybrid vehicle; generating a compensation value needed to compensate for the first startup reference value of the engine on the basis of a difference between the current speed and the future speed of the hybrid vehicle; acquiring a second startup reference value of the engine by compensating for the first startup reference value on the basis of the compensation value; and controlling a startup operation of the engine according to the second startup reference value acquired through compensation.