Carbon supported Pt-Sn-Ce and Pt-Sn catalysts have been synthesized by a polyol reduction method and compared for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses reveal the beneficial effects of the Ce component in Pt-Sn-Ce/C for MOR, despite its low content. Electrochemical techniques such as COad stripping, linear scan, and derivative voltammetries along with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to analyze MOR on Pt-Sn-Ce/C and Pt-Sn/C from a mechanistic point of view. Accelerated durability test (ADT) and single cell test of Pt-Sn-Ce/C in comparison to a commercial PtRu/C catalyst demonstrate the superior performance of Pt-Sn-Ce/C from stability and activity points of view. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.