This work presents the performance of the Copper (Cu) based functionally graded coatings (FGCs) when subjected to corrosion in the 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution and sliding wear under the different loads (2, 5, 8 and 10 N). The Cu FGC, with three layers of Cu (each 20 μm thick), has a gradual decrement in the crystallite size from bottom to the top surface. The Cu, Cu-SiC FGC consists of three-layered Cu FGC (each Cu layer 12 μm thick) followed by two layers of Cu-SiC nanocomposite (each 12 μm thick) with a steep increase in the amount of reinforced SiC nanoparticles from 2 to 7 vol% towards the top. A comparison is made among the equally thick (60 μm) electrodeposited FGCs, i.e., Cu FGC and Cu, Cu-SiC FGC, single-layered Cu coating with the finest microstructure (smallest crystallite size) and Cu-SiC nanocomposite coating with 7 vol% SiC. A drastic reduction in the corrosion and wear rate is observed in the Cu and Cu, Cu-SiC FGCs when compared with the same of single-layered Cu and Cu-SiC nanocomposite coatings, respectively. It is also observed that the Cu, Cu-SiC FGC has higher corrosion resistance than the Cu FGC. The Cu, Cu-SiC FGC is found to be more wear resistant than the Cu FGC at high load, while the latter shows lower specific wear rate at low loads. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.