Provided herein is a unit and method to assist the driver with brake operation and to lessen the operation burden. This vehicle deceleration control unit is provided with an engine brake that decelerates the vehicle by putting the vehicle in a state in which the power source is driven from the driven side, and when the driver holds brake operation, the deceleration caused by the engine brake is increased at a first rate. Then, once a predetermined time has elapsed after increasing the deceleration at the rise-up rate, the deceleration is increased from the deceleration at that time further at a second rate that is less than the Rise-up rate. Further, when the driver is increasing or decreasing the brake operation, i.e., does not hold the brake operation, the deceleration due to the engine brake is maintained.