Ce1-xSnxO2 (x ) 0.1-0.5) solid solution and its Pd substituted analogue have been prepared by a single step solution combustion method using tin oxalate precursor. The compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and H2/temperature programmed redution (TPR) studies. The cubic fluorite structure remained intact up to 50% of Sn substitution in CeO2, and the compounds were stable up to 700 °C. Oxygen storage capacity of Ce1-xSnxO2 was found to be much higher than that of Ce1-xZrxO2 due to accessible Ce4+/Ce3+ and Sn4+/Sn 2+ redox couples at temperatures between 200 and 400 °C. Pd 2+ ions in Ce0.78Sn0.2Pd0.02O 2 are highly ionic, and the lattice oxygen of this catalyst is highly labile, leading to low temperature CO to CO2 conversion. The rate of CO oxidation was 2 μmol g-1 s-1 at 50 °C. NO reduction by CO with 70% N2 selectivity was observed at ̃200 °C and 100% N2 selectivity below 260 °C with 1000-5000 ppm NO. Thus, Pd2+ ion substituted Ce1-xSnxO 2 is a superior catalyst compared to Pd2+ ions in CeO2, Ce1 -xZrxO2, and Ce1-xTi xO2 for low temperature exhaust applications due to the involvement of the Sn2+/Sn4+ redox couple along with Pd2+/Pd0 and Ce4+/Ce3+ couples.