Essential dimension of reductive groups via generically free representations

We provide a simple method to compute upper bounds on the essential dimension of split reductive groups with finite or connected center by means of their generically free representations. Combining our upper bound with previously known lower bound, the exact value of the essential dimension is calculated for some types of reductive groups. As an application, we determine the essential dimension of a semisimple group of classical type or $E_{6}$, and its strict reductive envelope under certain conditions on its center. This extends previous works on simple simply connected groups of type $B$ or $D$ by Brosnan-Reichstein-Vistoli and Chernousov-Merkurjev, strict reductive envelopes of groups of type $A$ by Cernele-Reichstein, and semisimple groups of type $B$ by the authors to any classical type and type $E_{6}$ in a uniform way.