Cerium-doped mesoporous spinel-type catalysts were prepared via a solution combustion synthesis method and were investigated for the catalytic combustion of soot and NO. Characterization studies using BET, XRD, SEM, TEM and catalytic activity tests confirmed that these catalysts effectively and simultaneously removed soot and NO, which are the two prevalent pollutants in diesel exhaust in the temperature range of 200–600 °C. The results from the characterization indicated that the deformation of a spinel structure might occur in the process of cerium substitution. This deformation would increase the oxygen mobility and affect the catalytic performance of cerium modified spinel-type catalysts.