An exhaust gas purification catalyst comprises a substrate; a catalyst layer formed on the substrate and containing at least palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) as a metal functioning as an oxidation and/or reduction catalyst. The catalyst also comprises a carrier that supports the metal, and an OSC material having oxygen storage capacity. The catalyst layer has, when disposed in the exhaust pipe, a front section positioned upstream in an exhaust gas flow direction within the exhaust pipe, and a rear section positioned downstream of the front section in the exhaust gas flow direction. The front section contains palladium (Pd) but does not contain the OSC material, and a proportion, at which the front section is formed from an upstream leading end in the exhaust gas flow direction, is 10% to 40% with respect to 100% of a total length of the substrate.