Disclosed are ceramic honeycomb articles, which are composed predominately of a crystalline phase cordierite composition. The ceramic honeycomb articles possess a microstructure characterized by a unique combination of relatively high total porosity of less than 54%, and relatively narrow pore size distribution having a d10 pore diameter of not less than 8 μm, a d90 pore diameter of not greater than 35 μm, and a value of df=(d50−d10)/d50 of less than 0.50. The articles exhibit high thermal durability and high filtration efficiency coupled with low pressure drop across the filter. Such ceramic articles are particularly well suited for filtration applications, such as diesel exhaust filters or DPFs. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the ceramic articles of the present invention.