A hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor, an engine including an exhaust gas purifying unit, and an engine clutch disposed between the electric motor and the engine. A method of controlling the hybrid vehicle includes determining a driving environment condition including a first condition related to at least a driving load when a request for operating the exhaust gas purifying unit is received, determining a state of the engine clutch and an operation condition of the exhaust gas purifying unit when the exhaust gas purifying means operates according to the result of determining the driving environment condition, and operating the exhaust gas purifying unit while maintaining the determined state of the engine clutch when the driving environment condition is satisfied.