Mesoporous ceria and transition metal-doped ceria (M0.1Ce9.9O2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Cu)) catalysts were synthesized via CTAB-assisted method. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, DLS analysis, SEM, BET, Raman, H-2-TPR and in situ DRIFT techniques. The catalytic activity tests for soot oxidation were performed under tight contact of soot/catalyst mixtures in the presence of O-2 and NO + O-2, respectively. The obtained results show that mesoporous ceria-based solid solutions can be formed with large surface areas and small crystallite size. Transition metals doping enhances the oxygen vacancies and improves redox properties of the solids, resulting in the increased NO oxidation capacity and NOx adsorption capacity. The soot oxidation activity in the presence of O-2 is enhanced by doping transition metal, which may be related to their high surface area, increased oxygen vacancies and improved redox properties. The soot combustion is accelerated by the NO2-assisted mechanism under NO + O-2 atmosphere, facilitating an intimate contact between the soot and the catalyst. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.